Dr. Michael Vlerick

Why does criticism linger longer than a compliment? Why do we imagine countless doomsday scenarios for the future? Why do we so easily fall prey to stress, depression, impulsivity, addiction, and jealousy? Why are we not happier, even when objectively we have every reason to be? All these questions have the same answer: due to our genetic programming. Unfortunately, evolution by natural selection did not design us to be permanently happy. On the contrary, our evolutionary heritage burdens us with chronic dissatisfaction and ceaseless worrying. So, are we destined to be unhappy? Not at all. Despite our nature, durable happiness is possible. Philosopher of science, Michael Vlerick, shows how you can take your destiny in your own hands. He translates ancient insights and practices - from Buddhism to Stoicism - into a concrete plan, with a focus on the power of meditation and modern breakthroughs in the science of happiness.

For the second time in the history of humankind, technology is fundamentally changing the fabric of society. The first time around, the development of agriculture radically increased the size of the groups in which we lived together. This caused major turmoil. In order to keep social cohesion and cooperation within these larger groups, a number of key social institutions such as property, criminal law and the management of commons evolved. Today – 12 000 years later – technology is disrupting the social landscape again. Transport and communication technologies are launching the global age. Groups are melting together and the major challenges of our time – climate change, overpopulation, poverty and the resulting migration and conflict – can no longer be addressed at the group level. They are global problems and can only be solved through global cooperation. The time has come to rethink society and give rise to a global social contract.

People are predictably irrational! In this talk I guide you through the dark alleys of human reasoning. Based on a series of entertaining examples, I show you where our reasoning tends to err, why this is the case and how we can arm ourselves against these biases. I also highlight the importance of critical thinking, not only for our own personal lives, but for society at large.