When Wish Replaces Thought

by Steven Goldberg

This rigorous analysis of current social issues exposes the ways in which public debate has been confused by moral and political dogma.Among educated people there is a constellation of accepted "truths" about the world. Often only superficially plausible, they are uncontested because they reflect much of what the public wishes to believe. In this book, Steven Goldberg examines the scientific question of how the world does work, not the moral/political question of how it should work, reminding the reader that while neither logic nor science can ever enable someone to select a moral or political position, conclusions based on a faulty view of the world are always unsuccessful.In Part One - "Why We Behave as We Do" - Goldberg examines the death penalty; the questions of "normality"; the meaning of behavioral cause; the theory of patriarchy; myths (and truths) about black athletic superiority; and the value of standardized tests.In Part Two - "Why We View the World as We Do" - he examines the truths in stereotypes; the logical structure of Freudian theory; the "correct" use of language; the abortion issue; and science, social science, and bad social science.Because Goldberg addresses widely held but erroneous beliefs with an energetic logic rarely found in writings on these subjects, this volume is a refreshingly direct response to our "politically correct" times.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics

216 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1991

Reviews

[Emil O. W. Kirkegaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aside from some fun quotes, this book is of little interest to any empirical scholar. It's mostly philosophy.

[Juan Pablo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a great book, but it's a good book & it's thought provoking. It's a collection of essays by the author on various topics, such as homosexuality, the death penalty, astrology, patriarchy & stereotypes. The book is about 20 years old so some of the information is outdated & no longer valid due to the availability of more accurate information, specifically in regards to homosexuality. One thing, I think, is good about this book is that regardless of what end of the spectrum you fall or what side of an issue you stand on, Goldberg demands that you have good & sound arguments for your position & he does not budge on that. Even if you are on the side that is right in an argument, if you arrived at the position via invalid or unsound arguments it will challenge you to come with a better one.

A good read. It'll definitely make you think.