My broad research and writing interest is reasoning and decision-making. My experimental investigations focus on causal cognition (how people decide what caused something to occur or what can prevent an event can occurring), social cognition (how perceived relative status impacts fairness in economic transactions), and moral cognition (which factors influence our decisions to harm or help others). I also write scientific essays summarizing psychological research for popular venues such Psychology Today, Scientific American, PBS Newshour, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. My video recorded lectures on my book Good Thinking (Cambridge University Press, 2nd Edition, 2021) can be found at New Scientist Academy.
PHIL 1440 - Critical Thinking
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2025 / Fall 2025 / Spring 2026
Develops students' skills in evaluating arguments and other aspects of critical thinking, focusing on the ways people reason and attempt to justify their beliefs. Activities may include modeling arguments, detecting common fallacies, examining the use (and misuse) of scientific evidence, and learning the basics of symbolic logic. Formerly titled "Introductory Logic."
