Seeing Through the Bumpf: A Practical Guide to Being Rational in a Confusing World

Do you have an uneasy sense that you are being manipulated every day and being misled? You are, and you aren't alone. Every day, we're bombarded by statements, questionable reasoning, emotional pleas, and (very) selective data. These are employed by the media, politicians, public figures, and marketers in an effort to draw you to their side of the argument.

At times, you may want to wave the white flag of surrender in the war for truth. Maybe there is no truth? Maybe there are many-sometimes contradictory-truths. It doesn't feel like that could be possible, but how else do you reconcile these very articulate but diametrically opposing viewpoints and data?

By developing critical analytical skills and learning what it means to be rational, you'll be able to weigh the merits of the opposing viewpoints and more easily see gaps in others' arguments. Being rational requires honesty and a sincere effort to determine what is true and what is not as a basis for making decisions.

What are you going to do about being manipulated and misled? Learn what being rational means, how to think rationally, and develop skills to determine valid data and to have a truly rational discussion. Seeing Through the Bumpf will help you become an informed and thoughtful analyst of the daily bombardment that comes your way.

Gerry Ewert holds a EdD in Education (Harvard Graduate School of Education), an MA in Education (Administration: Planning and Social Policy in International Development, University of Alberta), an MA in Educational Psychology (Cognitive Development, University of Alberta), a Professional Teaching Diploma, and a BA (Honours, Physiological Psychology, University of Alberta). His EdD dissertation focused on ethical policy development, applying Habermas' critical theory to Ewert's theory of action.

Ewert's extensive experience in education and practical philosophy includes over thirty years in government, both in Canada and overseas-Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt, Lesotho, and Kenya. His work in a variety of capacities has included technical statistical and simulation modelling expertise, proposal development, technical and policy framework development, research and statistical support, and technical support. He has previously authored A Practical Philosopher's Approach to Critical Theory as well as Critical Theory Approach: Handbook for Policy and Planning available at https: //www.apracticalphilosopher.com/