Case Against Reality

Donald D. Hoffman argues that sight does not show the world as it is. In his view, evolution shapes what we see to help us survive. He likens the things we see to icons on a computer screen. They help us act but hide how things work. He also asks how ads and design can exploit what we see.

This nonfiction book looks at perception—how we sense the world. It also deals with the philosophy of mind. Hoffman draws on thirty years of his cognitive science research. He builds his case with evolutionary biology and game theory, too. He also draws on neuroscience and philosophy.