In our introductory lecture, Dr. Michael Shermer delves into the nature of truth, distinguishing between subjective internal truths and objective external truths. He examines the methods developed since the scientific revolution for determining provisional truths about the world. The lecture also tackles the challenges of navigating an alleged "post-truth era" and concludes by exploring the limits of human knowledge, including the possibility of "known unknowables" such as consciousness, free will, God, and the ultimate reason for existence.

In lecture two, we investigate the relationship between science and skepticism, focusing on how scientists approach claims with skepticism and employ the null hypothesis as a starting point. The lecture delves into the definition of science as a set of methods designed to describe and interpret observed or inferred phenomena, emphasizing the importance of testability and evidence-based reasoning. The discussion concludes with an in-depth examination of signal detection theory and its practical applications in various fields, from medical diagnosis to public policy decisions, highlighting the significance of cost-benefit analysis in decision-making.

In lecture three, Dr. Shermer explores rationality, irrationality, and free will, examining their roles in decision-making, self-control, and the pursuit of meaningful goals. Our discussion covers how the brain processes decisions through the prefrontal cortex, the challenges of balancing short-term gratification with long-term objectives, and strategies for rational self-control. The lecture concludes by exploring the relationship between happiness, meaningfulness, and rationality, emphasizing how purposeful actions, personal identity, and individual values shape fulfilling goals rooted in more than rational calculation.