#1888 - Michael Shermer cover

#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."

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
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