How to be more rational: an introduction to logic and systematic reasoning
Key facts
- Cost: £170
- Credits: 10
Summary
We live in a world full of information, but often via competing sources, biases and subjective perspectives. From advertising to social media, politics and fake news, persuasive distortion and appeals to our instincts are also hard to avoid. We can even be unaware of our own cognitive bias and faulty thinking. How do you know what is trustworthy information or not? How can you interrogate your own thinking to arrive at sounder opinions?
Join this timely and reflective course to learn how to think more rationally and argue better. Find tools and techniques that enable you to think more logically and clearly, and reason more methodically. Learn how to spot bad arguments, effectively counter them, and reach more rigorous answers on any topic.
Over a series of talks and key texts, our expert tutor will explain:
- Some key foundational concepts, methods and techniques in logic and reasoning, including:
- the structure of arguments
- argument reconstruction and evaluation
- deduction, induction, and rational persuasiveness
- logical fallacies and cognitive biases
- how these can be illustrated by ‘real world’ examples
- Introduce students to some of the key philosophical figures and thinking in analytic philosophy
You will also have the chance to discuss and reflect on what you learn with other students and the tutor in seminars
Choose this course if you want to learn:
- The fundamentals of logical thinking and how to apply them
- How to employ basic techniques of argument reconstruction and evaluation
- How to share your thinking in discussion and learn from others
- (if assessment taken) how to explain and apply these ideas in writing, illustrating your thinking with examples
Who is this course for?
Anyone curious about deeper ways to think, including those with an interest in
- Logic, reason: how to think more rationally and argue better
- How to analyse and argue better in other academic subjects including the arts, science and vocational subjects
- philosophy, including different topics and types, such as…
- Analytic Philosophy: looks for the solution of philosophical problems in the logical analysis of propositions or sentences and common experience
- Epistemology: the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge
- Philosophy of Mind: what it means to have a mind, and how they should be understood
Qualifications/credits
(optional) 10 credits at SCQF 7 / Level 1
Can contribute towards the attainment of Certificate or Diploma in Higher Education
Assessment
If you opt to take the course for credit, this course is assessed by:
- One 1,500 word essay (75% of final grade)
- One sentence prompt question/answer exercise (25% of final grade)
Mode of study
This 10-week course will be delivered via 2-hour seminars led by a tutor.
Course materials will be provided via our online learning platform Moodle
Prospects
- Start or develop your journey as a philosopher and thinking
- Can begin your study of philosophy at university level
- contribute towards a Certificate or Diploma in Higher Education
- can improve your critical thinking, reasoning and argumentation skills
- can inform your personal reading list and introduce you to some informative ideas to make sense of life
Find out more
The University holds open days throughout the year where you can meet with staff to discuss our short course provision. Find out more about University of Glasgow open days
Available sessions
- Date: 26/09/2024 - 28/11/2024
Day: Thursday
Time: 19:00 - 21:00
Reference: How to be more rational: an introduction to logic and systematic reasoning(1849)- Online live book now