Join the world-renowned public intellectual and Harvard cognitive scientist for a guide to rationality during an epidemic of unreason.

In the twenty-first century, humanity is reaching new heights of scientific understanding – and at the same time appears to be losing its mind. How can a species that discovered vaccines for Covid-19 in less than a year produce so much fake news, quack cures and conspiracy theorizing?

Joining us live in London, Prof Pinker will reject the cynical cliché that humans are simply an irrational species – cavemen out of time fatally cursed with biases, fallacies and illusions. After all, we discovered the laws of nature, lengthened and enriched our lives and set the benchmarks for rationality itself. Instead, he will explain, we think in ways that suit the low-tech contexts in which we spend most of our lives, but fail to take advantage of the powerful tools of reasoning we have built up over millennia: logic, critical thinking, probability, causal inference, and decision-making under uncertainty.

Rationality matters. It leads to better choices in our lives and in the public sphere, and is the ultimate driver of social justice and moral progress. Brimming with insight and humour, this talk will enlighten, inspire and empower.

This event is available to attend both in-person and as a livestream. 

Members of our How To Plus digital service receive a 20% discount to the live event and free access to the livestream.

COVID protocols will adhere to government guidelines.