The Demands of Rationality

The course will survey a range of different views about what it takes to be rational. Potential questions we will consider range from the everyday to the theoretical, including: Is there reason to vote in large elections if you know in advance that your vote will not swing the election? Could it be rational to make a sincere promise to spend the rest of your life with someone, given what is known about relationship failure rates? How should you respond to learning that you disagree with someone who seems equally well-qualified to judge the relevant issue?