Premature Factulation: The Ignorance of Certainty and the Ghost of Montaigne

by Philip D. Hansten

Premature Factulation (n.) the process of coming to conclusions without adequate study or contemplation; usually applied to complex concepts or situations. --Syn. Ignorant Certainty. Drawing on the wisdom and profound humility of the brilliant 16th century French essayist Michel de Montaigne and other thinkers, this book explores the origins and manifestations of ignorant certainty. Why do we humans so vastly overestimate our understanding of the world? What human traits incline us to ignorant certainty? Why do leaders in government, business, economics, and even science so often lead us down the wrong paths? Finally, how can we counter the pernicious influence of Premature Factulation?

307 pages, Paperback

Published July 30, 2009