Critical Thinking: How to Effectively Reason, Understand Irrationality, and Make Better Decisions

Stuart Vyse, Ph.D., is the author of Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition, which received the William James Book Award of the American Psychological Association. A celebrated psychologist and professor as well as a recognized author, he is the perfect guide for this audio series on the power of superstition.

This wide-ranging course reveals the method to our madness in everything from finances to Friday the 13th. An expert on irrational behavior, Prof. Vyse discusses what it means to be rational before delving into the many reasoning errors and psychological challenges that lead us astray.

In 15 lectures, you will learn to identify the logical fallacies and quirks of our psychology that tempt us to make unwise decisions. While the course is based in theory, it’s also teeming with practical advice.

You’ll examine several popular conspiracy theories before exploring the remarkable staying power of common “bad luck” superstitions: How did these superstitions come to be? Is it always bad to be irrational? At what point do our beliefs veer into the territory of wishful thinking or willful ignorance?

Packed with fun examples and everyday pointers, this course leaves you thinking long and hard about how you think. With Prof. Vyse’s guidance, you’ll learn to better understand your beliefs and make better decisions.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection.

This course was previously published as The Science of Irrationality: How to Think Better