Last session, we discussed a number of frameworks and practices meant to guide and strengthen the reasoning process.  This session, we will examine some of the imperfections in reasoning to which we all, as human beings, are prone.  We will also continue work on the assignments in the policy sequence.

Task One: Individually or in your group (as appropriate) work through the questions posed by Critical Approaches to Policy Proposals as they are applicable to the Policy Options Brief you are preparing.

Task Two: Post your Policy Options Brief on the Class Posts page.  The title of your post should be in the following format, “Policy Options Brief on [insert you topic].”  Make sure the names of all authors are in the body of the post as well as a link to the uploaded Word document.

Task Three: Read Tversky & Kahnemann, “Judgment Under Uncertainty” and Simons, “Cognitive Shorthands.”

Task Four:  View this lecture about the Limitations of Human Reason.

Task Five: View the following segments of Colin Powell’s pre-Iraq Speech to the United Nations: Segment One, Segment Two, Segment Three.  Comment on this post.

Task Six: Read “Did 12 Angry Men Get It Wrong?” by Mike D’Angelo and then comment on this post.