The Great Courses (Firm)

Logic is intellectual self-defense against such assaults on reason and also a method of quality control for checking the validity of your own views. But beyond these very practical benefits, informal logic—the kind we apply in daily life—is the gateway to an elegant and fascinating branch of philosophy known as formal logic, which is philosophy’s equivalent to calculus. Formal logic is a breathtakingly versatile tool. Much like a Swiss army...

Track the fascinating changes that happen in children's friendships, as they move from the simple "love the one you're with" connections of young children, through the palling around of school-age children, to the intimate relationships of teens. Discover the three key ingredients of friendship formation and investigate ways to support your child's social development.

Study the discovery that destroyed the dream of an axiomatic system that could prove all mathematical truths - Kurt Gödel's demonstration that mathematical consistency is a mirage and that the price for avoiding paradoxes is incompleteness. Outline Gödel's proof, seeing how it relates to the liar's paradox from Lecture 1.

Tour some of the masterpieces of Aztec art, including the Calendar Stone and Stone of Tizoc, which were likely platforms for human sacrifices. Then behold the terrifying Statue of Coatlicue, and pore over the Codex Mendoza, which is a beautifully illustrated history of the Aztec nation.

Witness this glorious dynasty continue through two superior pharaohs and then one great one, Amenhotep III, "The Sun King."

Add to your “marketing toolkit” some of the principles and strategies of an effective communications plan, with a look at some successful (and unsuccessful) ad campaigns, including the California Milk Processor Board’s famous “Got Milk” campaign. Also, get tips on how to command consumers’ attentions without turning them off..

Not all science fiction predicts technology-driven modern futures. Look at the stories over time that foreshadowed a desolate and bleak future, ravaged by environmental issues, plagues, or cataclysmic events. Examine the five components of apocalyptic stories, the various paradoxes the wasteland-style novels predict or reflect, and some stellar examples from this often bleak subgenre..

Representing the largest family of vegetables, brassicas deliver assertive flavors along with great health benefits. In this lesson, focus on just a few with hearty, distinctive dishes, including Brussels sprouts with Thai dipping sauce; butter-braised turnips with miso and honey; and braised endive with ham in a crème fraîche sauce.

Delve into the surprising root of many anger issues and see how CBT works to decrease “hostile fantasies,” or the thoughts you have when a person or situation triggers your anger. Add simple exercises to your life that will help you recognize triggers and defuse them before they become full-blown rage..

How much energy can you save with a properly designed house? Would you believe all of it? Trace the trend in passive solar and net-zero-energy homes that are engineered to stay comfortable year-round by exploiting sunlight in winter and shielding against it in summer, with minimal operating costs..