Thinking Critically About Weird Things

Just how reasonable is it to believe in astrology, or that we are visited by aliens, or that some places are haunted by the dead? Given some conspiracy theories are true, how do we tell which are reasonable and which are cranky? This talk provides key pieces of advice on thinking about weird things.

Dr Stephen Law is a philosopher, academic and all-round polymath. He has written a number of best-selling introductions to philosophy for both adults and children, including The Complete Philosophy Files and The Philosophy Gym. He is much in demand as a public speaker and has written for the Guardian, Independent on Sunday, Mail on Sunday, the Sydney Morning Herald, The Times, Newsweek, Aeon, and New Scientist magazine.

Stephen began his career as a postman before discovering philosophy and entering University as a mature student. He was a postgraduate and researcher at the University of Oxford, before becoming a lecturer at Heythrop College in the University of London. He is currently Director of Studies for Philosophy at Oxford University Department of Continuing Education.