PHIL 8: Reason, Logic, Idols
University of California, Santa Cruz
Introduces critical tools for assessing and assimilating information. Topics include echo chambers, misleading statistics, the Bias Blind Spot, degrees of confidence, epistemic injustice, polarization; credibility and distrust; epistemic blame; base rates, relativism, p-values, and biased samples. Readings are drawn from philosophy, social psychology, behavioral economics, and statistics. (Formerly Reason, Logic, and the Idols of Thought.)
Average GPA: 3.23
Grade distribution records: 725 students across 3 terms.
Grade distribution
| Grade | Students | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 35 | 4.8% |
| A | 232 | 32.0% |
| A- | 79 | 10.9% |
| B+ | 61 | 8.4% |
| B | 63 | 8.7% |
| B- | 30 | 4.1% |
| C+ | 19 | 2.6% |
| C | 23 | 3.2% |
| C- | 10 | 1.4% |
| D | 12 | 1.7% |
| D- | 2 | 0.3% |
| F | 39 | 5.4% |
| P | 97 | 13.4% |
| NP | 16 | 2.2% |
| W | 7 | 1.0% |
Based on 725 student grade records across 3 terms and 2 professors.
Instructors
- Jonathan E Ellis 553 students, Average GPA 3.17
- James Patrick Read 172 students, Average GPA 3.39