Finally…The Truth with Michael Shermer
Summary
Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice welcome Michael Shermer to discuss his book *Truth* and the challenges of navigating a post-truth world. They explore objective reality versus personal belief, using Carl Sagan’s invisible dragon analogy to illustrate the need for external evidence. The conversation covers cognitive biases like confirmation bias, the role of science in establishing provisional truths, and how to distinguish between empirical facts and literary or religious narratives.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and episode introduction
Defining objective truth and the invisible dragon
Personal truth, ayahuasca, and subjective experiences
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Confirmation bias, my-side bias, and patternicity
Bayesian reasoning and literary vs. factual truth
Post-truth, motivated reasoning, and conspiracy theories
Real conspiracies, scientific consensus, and fiat money
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Social media, skepticism, and the role of experts
Post-modernism, anti-vax movements, and truth decay
Moral truths, future AI gods, and closing remarks
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