When Bad Thinking Happens to Good People: How Philosophy Can Save Us from Ourselves

by Steven M. Nadler & Lawrence Shapiro

Why the tools of philosophy offer a powerful antidote to today’s epidemic of irrationality

There is an epidemic of bad thinking in the world today. An alarming number of people are embracing crazy, even dangerous ideas. They believe that vaccinations cause autism. They reject the scientific consensus on climate change as a “hoax.” And they blame the spread of COVID-19 on the 5G network or a Chinese cabal. Worse, bad thinking drives bad acting—it even inspired a mob to storm the U.S. Capitol. In this book, Steven Nadler and Lawrence Shapiro argue that the best antidote for bad thinking is the wisdom, insights, and practical skills of philosophy. When Bad Thinking Happens to Good People provides an engaging tour through the basic principles of logic, argument, evidence, and probability that can make all of us more reasonable and responsible citizens.

Interview with the Author

New Books Network
Steven Nadler and Lawrence Shapiro, “When Bad Thinking Happens to Good People: How Philosophy Can Save Us from Ourselves” (Princeton UP, 2021)
11/1/21          45 min

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Keen On
Steven Nadler on the Global Epidemic of Bad Thinking
8/27/21         34 min

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