#1888 - Michael Shermer
NaN minutesEpisode #1888
Dr. Michael Shermer is the founding publisher of Skeptic magazine, host of the podcast "The Michael Shermer Show," and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. He is the author of several books, the most recent of which is "Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational."
Episodes with Michael Shermer
Episode Timestamps
Why it's not irrational to believe conspiracy theories
- Conspiracy theories are not irrational because many of them are true
- It's better to assume more conspiracy theories are true than miss out on one that is real
- The term "conspiracy theory" has been used negatively since the JFK assassination
- Before WWII, conspiracy theories were common knowledge
- Even the Declaration of Independence is a conspiracy theory
Discussion on Lee Harvey Oswald and conspiracy theories
- President Johnson was worried about nuclear exchange if there was a conspiracy theory blaming the Cubans or Russians for the JFK assassination
- The Warren Report seems thorough, but there are many conspiracy theories floating around
- The Oliver Stone film brought attention to conspiracy theories
- Gerald Posner's book argues that all evidence points to Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone
- Vincent Bellosi's book discusses the hundreds of conspiracy theories, but none have evidence to converge on any other theory except Lee Harvey Oswald
- 80% of ear witnesses heard three shots, but probability says it's unlikely that one bullet caused all the damage
- Lee Harvey Oswald probably had knowledge of the assassination, but he may have been set up as a patsy
- There may have been many people with a vested interest in JFK's death
Conspiracy theories around the JFK Assassination
- Discussion of conspiracy theories around the assassination of JFK.
- Talk of Lee Harvey Oswald and his purported involvement.
- Conversation about the validity of conspiracy theories and the potential for some to be true.
The Search for Evidence
- Discussion of the need for evidence in conspiracy theories.
- Mention of the Pentagon Papers and their lack of information on the JFK assassination.
- Talk of the possibility of CIA involvement.
Blackmail and Assassination
- Government groups like the American Indian movement, feminist groups, and the Black Panthers were involved in blackmailing Martin Luther King Jr.
- Martin Luther King Jr's assassin, James Earl Ray, was funded in a strange manner.
- WikiLeaks did not release information on 9/11 as an inside job, JFK, or the fake moon landing.
UAPs
- UAP sightings could potentially be advanced drones that can move at high speeds and enter the ocean.
- The government may not want high-resolution videos of these sightings to be taken, and current technology on jets is not designed for high-resolution video.
- The Fermi Paradox suggests that there is almost certainly life outside of Earth, but evidence for them visiting us is anecdotal and thin.
Unexplainable Speeds
- The speaker discusses the possibility of miscalculation and multiple sources of data when examining objects that move faster than the speed of sound without the accompanying sonic boom.
Revisiting Theories
- The speaker discusses the importance of continually revisiting theories as technology evolves and new evidence is discovered.
- He also talks about the mystery of dark matter and dark energy, which currently serve as linguistic placeholders and may be explained in the future.
Creating Artificial Life Forms
- Scientists have created an artificial embryo with a brain and beating heart from mouse stem cells
- Extrapolating this technology, in a hundred thousand years we could have the power of Gods
- A life form millions of light years away may be interested in our nuclear power and chaos
- The reliability of science and scientific experiments is questionable due to bias and falsification
Fraud in Medical Science
- Medical science has been affected by fraud and errors, leading to false medications for diseases
- Transparency is required to avoid the file drawer problem and publish all data, not just positive results
- The competition for funding, tenure, and job security leads to p-hacking in experiments
- Too much gets published in journalism without fact-checkers and editors, leading to misinterpretations
Moral Panics and Satanic Panic of 1980s
- Discussion on how elements of truth in rumors can escalate into moral panics
- Example of satanic panic in the 1980s, including the McMartin preschool case
- Explains how issues with memory and suggestion can lead to false accusations
Research on the unreliability of memory
- Discussion on Elizabeth Loftus' pioneering research on memory reliability
- Examples given of how our memories can be influenced by leading questions and new information
- Implications discussed for eyewitness testimony and false accusations Note: Starting times are approximate as the text does not provide exact timings.
Problems with signal detection in the criminal justice system
- The criminal justice system faces the signal detection problem in identifying guilty and innocent individuals
- The Blackstone ratio of 10 to 1 favors letting guilty individuals go rather than convicting an innocent person
- Eyewitness and forensic evidence have limitations in identifying guilt or innocence, as evidenced by the Innocence Project exonerating many people, some of whom were on death row
- Even forensic evidence like bite marks or hair analysis are not always reliable
Polygraph tests, neuroimaging, and lie detection
- Polygraphs are unreliable and not admissible in court
- FMRI data has been used in court to implicate individuals, but the evidence is not always conclusive
- Even if an individual has knowledge of a crime scene, it does not necessarily mean they committed the crime
- MRIs to detect lying are still a long way off
Frank Olson and mysterious death linked to CIA's MKUltra program
- Frank Olson, a chemist, worked in the MKUltra program.
- Olson was secretly dosed with LSD by CIA colleagues at a bar or club.
- 10 days later, Olson supposedly jumped out of a New York City high-rise window.
- Evidence suggests Olson may have been pushed and hit on the head prior to the fall.
- Journalist Seymour Hirsch tried to investigate the case, but the CIA denied involvement and paid him off.
The problem with conspiracy theories - starting with an element of truth
- Alex Jones accused NASA of dosing people to talk to aliens, among other conspiracy theories.
- Jones's claims often start with a kernel of truth and then spirals out of control.
- Talking to fact-checkers and experts is critical to uncovering the truth.
- Investigating conspiracy theories thoroughly is often challenging and can be impossible.
- Tom O'Neill spent 20 years investigating the Manson case for his book "Chaos."
The possibility of non-biological evolution with technology integration
- Pelosi discusses the possibility of non-biological evolution with technology integration
- She questions the nature of artificial intelligence and whether it would have the same desires and needs as humans
- Pelosi suggests that an advanced civilization would not be colonial or enslaving and explains why she does not fear making contact with extraterrestrials
Cultural and moral progress as a solution to human emotion and government growth
- Pelosi discusses the unlikelihood of eliminating human emotion and the need for both positive and negative traits
- She highlights the importance of cultural progress and shifting norms in driving human progress
- Pelosi references Steve Pinker's work and the pushback he receives for claiming that the world is safer and better than ever before
The Best Time to Be Alive
- Despite the presence of horrors and atrocities, the world is safer now than during Genghis Khan's reign
- Utopia as a goal is unrealistic and has led to harmful "othering" behavior
- Instead, aim for protopia and incremental improvement
Speed of Social Progress
- Same-sex marriage acceptance happened quickly in the grand scheme of things
- Politicians changed their stance on same-sex marriage to win, showing how quickly attitudes shifted
- Interracial marriage was illegal until 1967 but is now accepted without question shows progress
Common Knowledge Problems in Transgender Sports
- Common knowledge problem can prevent athletes from taking action against unfair competition.
- Example of transgender athletes competing in women's sports causing controversy and ostracization of those who speak out.
Transgender in Combat Sports
- Discussion around allowing biological females to compete against trans women in MMA.
- Importance of finding a compromise, such as creating a trans women's division, to ensure fairness.
- Comparison to women's divisions in cycling and age divisions in sports.
Moral progress and activism
- People are rewarded for speaking out and saying what others are afraid to say
- Moral progress has been made in areas such as civil rights and gender equality
- The idea of what's next in terms of activism, with the mention of trans rights
- Conflicting rights in terms of trans rights and women's rights
Debate on trans and homosexuality
- Debate on what's real and what's social in the increasing number of people identifying as transgender
- Discussion on homosexuality and its purpose in a sexually reproducing species
- Reflection on moral progress in terms of acceptance for homosexuality
- Initial purpose of marriage in increasing population for religion/government
Concerns about GOP candidates and Christian nationalism
- Worried about GOP candidates appealing to their base by taking away gay marriage and contraception
- Hoping mass GOP does not support these ideas
- Shocked that these issues are still up for discussion in 2022
- Outliers of religious fundamentalists want society to go back to a Christian fundamentalist version
- Christian nationalism is getting bigger
QAnon and conspiracy theories
- Michael Flynn and QAnon
- Many people believe in QAnon and its conspiracy theories
- People find purpose in online activities such as conspiracy theories
- Rational people can believe irrational things
Neanderthal breeding
- Questions whether homo sapien females bred with Neanderthal males or vice versa
- Discusses the psychology of men and women in regards to sexual partners
- Considers the possibility of forced breeding and animal breeding
The inevitability of progress in evolution
- Questions whether evolution has a directionality towards technologically advanced civilizations
- Discusses the role of chance in evolution
- Considers the possibility of life forms existing without technological progress
Dimethyltryptamine and Endogenous Psychoactive Compounds
- The human brain produces dimethyltryptamine, which is a psychoactive compound
- Studies have been done on the effects of DMT, including IV dosing and use of sensory deprivation tanks
- Questions remain about the nature of DMT experiences and whether they are a doorway to another dimension or simply brain chemistry
- Ayahuasca, which contains DMT, is being studied for therapeutic use
Epistemological Questions and Psychedelic Experiences
- There are questions about how to define truth when it comes to psychedelic experiences
- It's difficult to know whether the experiences are real or simply brain chemistry
- Experiencing something personally can lead to a sense of truth that is difficult to measure
- Psychedelic experiences can be profound and can offer new perspectives on reality
Religion as Moral Scaffolding
- - Change in the speaker's stance on religion over the years - The moral scaffolding of religion that provides structure and meaning for people - Acknowledgment of the influence of human beings on religion, including examples of misogyny and slavery condoned in religious texts - Discussion of the benefits of religion as a moral guide, regardless of the accuracy of its origins
The Social Nature of Truth
- - The idea that humans rely on other people to shape their understanding of truth and reality - Religion as an example of tribal conspiracy that affirms group beliefs and behaviors - The need for social agreement and comfort in maintaining certain beliefs - Acknowledgment that some people remain unconvinced by religious arguments or dogma