JRE 1456 · April 9, 2020

Michael Shermer

sciencephilosophypsychologyconspiracyhistory

Who is Michael Shermer?

Michael Shermer is a science writer, historian of science, founder of The Skeptics Society, and Editor in Chief of its magazine Skeptic. His new book “Giving the Devil His Due: Reflections of a Scientific Humanist” is available now. https://amzn.to/2XmplJY @skepticmagazine

Topics and Timestamps

01Michael Shermer discusses his new book 'Giving the Devil His Due' and his approach to scientific skepticism
02Conversation covers the importance of critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning in evaluating extraordinary claims
03Shermer explains how confirmation bias affects how people process information and form beliefs
04Discussion about the scientific method and how it differs from pseudoscience and belief systems
05Exploration of how intelligent people can believe in irrational things due to psychological and social factors
06Shermer addresses the balance between skepticism and open-mindedness in evaluating fringe theories
▶Shermer defines skepticism and its relationship to open-mindedness0:03:45
▶Discussion of how intelligent people rationalize false beliefs0:15:20
▶Explanation of confirmation bias and pattern recognition in human brains0:28:30
▶Breaking down the scientific method versus pseudoscience0:42:15
▶Discussion about social psychology and belief communities0:58:00

The Show

Joe brings on Michael Shermer, the founder of The Skeptics Society and editor of Skeptic magazine, to discuss his new book 'Giving the Devil His Due: Reflections of a Scientific Humanist.' The conversation immediately dives into what skepticism actually means, with Shermer clarifying that it's not about rejecting things outright, but rather about demanding evidence before acceptance. He explains that skepticism is a method, not a conclusion, and that true skeptics should be willing to change their minds when presented with compelling evidence.

The core of their discussion revolves around how smart people can believe dumb things. Shermer breaks down the psychology behind this, explaining how confirmation bias works and why our brains are wired to seek out information that confirms what we already believe. Joe and Michael explore specific examples of intelligent individuals who have fallen for conspiracy theories or pseudoscientific claims, examining the cognitive mechanisms that make this possible. Shermer emphasizes that it's not about intelligence level but rather about how our pattern recognition systems evolved to work, sometimes against our better judgment.

A significant portion of the episode focuses on distinguishing between science and non-science. Shermer discusses the importance of falsifiability, reproducibility, and peer review in the scientific process. He talks about how pseudoscience often mimics the language and structure of real science without actually adhering to these core principles. The conversation touches on several fringe theories and how they fail the basic tests of scientific validity.

Shermer also discusses the cultural and social aspects of belief systems. He explains how people form communities around shared beliefs, and how belonging to these groups can reinforce false or unsupported claims. Joe brings up personal experiences with people he knows who have adopted conspiracy theories, and Shermer discusses the difficulty of changing deeply held beliefs once they've taken root.

The episode ends with discussion about balancing healthy skepticism with open-mindedness. Shermer argues that true intellectual honesty means being willing to follow the evidence wherever it leads, even when it contradicts our preferred narratives or worldviews.