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Michael Shermer

Michael Shermer Quotes

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Michael Shermer is an American writer, historian, and science writer. Born on September 8, 1954, he is known for his research on science, pseudoscience, and rational behavior. Shermer is a contributing writer for 'Scientific American' magazine and the founder and publisher of 'Skeptic' magazine. His writings cover a wide range of topics from history to scientific philosophy.

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Famous Michael Shermer Quotes

“...there ... remains a huge following [of Ayn Rand's philosophy] of those who ignore the indiscretions, infidelities, and moral inconsistencies of the founder and focus instead on the positive aspects of her philosophy. There is much in it to admire, if you do not have to accept the whole package... Criticism of the founder or followers of a philosophy does not, by itself, constitute a negation of any part of the philosophy... Criticism of part of a philosophy does not gainsay the whole.”

Ifs Thinking Doe Philosophy Whole Accepting Moral Focus Huge Aspect Criticism Remains Following Admire Followers Founders Infidelity Packages Inconsistency Negation

Author:Michael Shermer

“I am an atheist. There, I said it. Are you happy, all you atheists out there who have remonstrated with me for adopting the agnostic moniker? If "atheist" means someone who does not believe in God, then an atheist is what I am. But I detest all such labels. Call me what you like - humanist, secular humanist, agnostic, nonbeliever, nontheist, freethinker, heretic, or even bright. I prefer skeptic.”

Ifs Believe Mean Doe Said Atheist Labels Call Me Humanist Believe In God Secular Agnostic Skeptic Freethinker Heretic Adopting Detest

Author:Michael Shermer

“Either the soul survives death or it does not, and there is no scientific evidence that it does.”

Doe Soul Evidence Scientific Evidence

Book:Skeptic: Viewing the World with a Rational Eye

Source: Skeptic: Viewing the World with a Rational Eye

“There are many sources of spirituality; religion may be the most common, but it is by no means the only. Anything that generates a sense of awe may be a source of spirituality. Science does this in spades.”

May Mean Doe Spirituality Common Source Awe Spades

Author:Michael Shermer

“Accepting evolution does not force us to jettison our morals and ethics, and rejecting evolution does not ensure their constancy.”

Doe Force Accepting Moral Evolution Ethics Rejecting Constancy

Book:Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design

Source: Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design

“How can we find spiritual meaning in a scientific worldview? Spirituality is a way of being in the world, a sense of one’s place in the cosmos, a relationship to that which extends beyond oneself. . . . Does scientific explanation of the world diminish its spiritual beauty? I think not. Science and spirituality are complementary, not conflicting; additive, not detractive. Anything that generates a sense of awe may be a source of spirituality. Science does this in spades. (158-159)”

Thinking World Way May Doe Spiritual Spirituality Source Oneself Explanation Awe Cosmos Diminish Worldview Spades Complementary Additives Spiritual Beauty

Author:Michael Shermer

“Believing that the rustle in the grass is a dangerous predator when it is only the wind does not cost much, but believing that a dangerous predator is the wind may cost an animal its life.”

Believe May Doe Animal Dangerous Wind Cost Climate Change Grass Predator

Author:Michael Shermer

“The recent medical controversy over whether vaccinations cause autism reveals a habit of human cognition — thinking anecdotally comes naturally, whereas thinking scientifically does not.”

Thinking Humans Doe Causes Habit Medical Autism Controversy Cognition Vaccinations

Author:Michael Shermer