Overview

Are religions and cult-beliefs irrational? Can they hi-jack human minds and spread independently of reason? Richard Dawkins' theory of memes proposes that ideas, like genes, are subject to evolutionary pressures. He argues that certain religious beliefs are like mind viruses that spread because of their strong psychological impact and their very absurdity. However, Dr Ray Scott Percival argues that truth, logic, and other rational standards actually enhance the copyability of memes, the exact opposite of Dawkins' thesis. Percival, a philosopher of science and mind, reveals the rationality behind religious ideas and their evolution. The related ideas of Daniel Dennett and Susan Blackmore do not escape critical scrutiny. Perfect for fans of Karl Popper and those curious about the intersection of reason and belief. 130 pages.

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Dr. Ray Scott Percival is a philosopher and author of The Myth of the Closed Mind: Understanding Why and How People Are Rational, and the forthcoming Steven Pinker: Critical Responses, and Mattias Desmet: Critical Responses. He is also the composer of Autumn Canal Trip: A Symphonic Poem. Fascinated by the interplay of poetry, music, and philosophy, he explores how these disciplines can together deepen our understanding and appreciation of the world. He organised the Annual Conference on the Philosophy of Sir Karl Popper for 10 years, and served as associate editor on the Journal of Social and Evolutionary Systems. He has published in the top science journals in New Scientist, Nature, and the Times Higher Education Supplement, and other renowned publications.

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