critical thinking

An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 03 – Epistemology – Part 7: Summary – Will truth prevail?

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Truth is rarely welcomed with open arms at first. History reminds us that genuine knowledge often arrives disguised as disruption, challenging what feels safe and familiar. Epistemology teaches us that truth doesn’t need immediate approval to endure. When an idea survives scrutiny, resistance, and time, it earns its place in our understanding. Wisdom grows not by avoiding challenge, but by meeting it with courage.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 03 – Epistemology – Part 5: Who am I kidding?

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Reason can take us far, but experience brings us home. Aristotle reminds us that knowledge doesn’t live only in our heads; it emerges from our engagement with the world itself. Empiricism grounds philosophy in touch, sight, sound, and movement, keeping our thinking honest and connected to reality. Wisdom grows when ideas meet experience.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 03 – Epistemology – Part 4: Am I tripping?

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Our senses are powerful storytellers, but they don’t always tell the truth. Plato reminds us that perception can mislead, bending reality like a funhouse mirror. Rationalism invites us to look beyond appearances and trust reason as a steadier guide. When the world feels distorted, philosophy teaches us how to pause, think, and regain our footing.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 03 – Epistemology – Part 3: Am I dreaming? How would I know?

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Epistemology asks us to question not just what we believe, but whether our confidence itself is justified. When Descartes wondered if he might be dreaming, he wasn’t chasing paranoia; he was practicing intellectual humility. Philosophy invites us to test our assumptions gently, to notice when comfort replaces clarity, and to ask what waking up might actually feel like.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 03 – Epistemology Part 2: Have we met?

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Gaslighting thrives on confusion, repetition, and doubt. Epistemology gives us a way back to solid ground by teaching us how to evaluate sources, check claims, and trust careful reasoning over manipulation. When we learn how knowledge works, fake certainty loses its grip, and clarity becomes an act of quiet resistance.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 03 – Epistemology Part 1: Introduction – How do we know what we know?

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Much of what we think we know comes to us secondhand, carried along by stories, traditions, and trusted voices. Epistemology invites us to slow down and examine those beliefs more closely. It asks us to look at how knowledge is formed, tested, and justified, helping us distinguish between what merely circulates and what truly holds up. This is where philosophy teaches us to think for ourselves.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 02 – Logic Part 7: Summary – Is AI going to kill us with logic?

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Logic alone doesn’t make us human, and it doesn’t make machines dangerous either. What matters is how logic dances with creativity, intuition, and imagination. AI reflects our thinking back to us, revealing both our strengths and our blind spots. When we treat logic as a partner rather than a weapon, it becomes a tool for deeper understanding and more meaningful connection, not domination or fear.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 02 – Logic Part 6: Did Spock really have Kirk’s back?

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Dear Mr. Spock, In the vast expanse of the universe, your dedication to logic has always been a guiding star. But as your dear friend Dr. McCoy often reminded us, there’s a place for a little illogic, a little emotion, and a little human messiness in the grand conversation. After all, logic might be the … Read more

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 02 – Logic Part 5: Are aliens real?

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Not all reasoning waits for certainty. Abductive thinking invites us to make the best possible sense of incomplete information, to hold ideas lightly but thoughtfully. It’s how we navigate mysteries without surrendering to fantasy or fear. Philosophy reminds us that some of the most reasonable beliefs are formed not from proof, but from careful attention to clues and context.

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An Introduction to Philosophy (RLL style) Week 02 – Logic Part 4: Can you handle the truth?

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Logic isn’t only a shield against bad arguments from others; it’s a mirror we hold up to ourselves. It helps us notice when comfort has replaced truth, and when belief has slipped into self-deception. While this kind of clarity can sting, it’s also freeing. Facing reality with open eyes is one of the most powerful acts of self-respect philosophy offers.

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