PHIL 115: Practical Reasoning
5 credits
Q/SR and I&S
Lecture: MWF 1:30-2:20 (sln: 18368)
T, TH quiz sections - the 2:30 (18371) and 3:30 (18375) ones have plenty of open seats.
In this course, students will learn a wide array of philosophical tools -- from informal logic to elementary decision theory -- that can be used to analyze the ethical and political arguments that we encounter everyday in the news and through social media. Students will also investigate the circumstances under which human behavior is predictably irrational and illogical. By learning when we are likely to behave irrationally, we can improve our own decision-making and avoid being manipulated by marketers, politicians, and other actors who might not always have our best interests in mind.