PARADIGM

A nonfiction book about the rise of modern reason.

Retired research chemist Johnson argues that one must cast off one’s trust in instinct and instead embrace scientific understanding. Specifically, the author suggests that intuition, though vitally important to our ancestors, now provides fertile soil for the proliferation of destructive beliefs. Intuition, he says, is the realm of “first thoughts,” or untested impressions, which are akin to a gamble. Without the imposition of reason, which can reveal fictional narratives, first impressions can foster fear and social division, he says. The author further asserts that continued belief in a traditional creator god is a product of a similarly limited perspective, which has driven generations into blind adherence. Johnson argues that an increased reliance on science has resulted in more people moving away from traditional religion, which, he says, will no longer be a dominant force by the next century. The author draws upon his own scientific training as a research scientist at the Universities of Chicago and Arizona, his time in the pharmaceutical industry, and his Catholic background to offer an analysis that readers will find to be reminiscent of the works of famed skeptics such as Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett. However, although the work is often engaging and easy to follow, it leaves some aspects of his premise unexplained. The author does acknowledge that science can’t answer all questions, but readers may take issue with Johnson’s idealization of scientific thought; for instance, he states a belief that science can eliminate racism without addressing the long history of scientists pursuing discriminatory ideas and policies. Additionally, Johnson’s assertion that an increase in modern technology results in a decrease in irrational belief lacks detailed support. That said, the author’s advocacy for collective reason and increased scientific education is welcome.

A thought-provoking, if sketchily supported, examination of the role of intuition in a changing world.