Language, Lies and Irrational Thinking: A Defence of Reason in an Unreasoning World

Why do we make bad decisions?

How do people justify bad arguments?

Is being sincere the same thing as being authentic?

What is common sense?

What is the link between ideology and delusion?

Is populist rhetoric undermining democracy?

What is the difference between strategic thinking and strategic planning?

What is a 'sustainable decision'?

What is Multiple Rationality Analysis and its role in decision making?

Are we living in an Age of Hypocrisy? If so, what can be done about?





The language used to advocate or criticise political and social policies has become aggressive and less amenable to rational debate. The ways in which we talk to each other are resulting in irrational decisions and unsustainable policies. This book examines the ways in which different, often competing, rationalities are expressed in policy debates. It is a series of essays about communication and miscommunication.

Although much of the argument is inevitably (and unapologetically) grounded in theory, its intention is to provide a way of responding to a key practical issue - namely, how to make policy decisions that we do not live to regret.