Home / Authors / Michael Shermer

Michael Shermer

Michael Shermer Quotes

Writer

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.

Filter quotes by topic

All Thinking Believe Evolution Humans World Doe Science Skepticism Atheism Belief Moral Brain Design Ifs Myth Patterns People Religion Religious Skeptic

Famous Michael Shermer Quotes

“Myths are stories that express meaning, morality or motivation. Whether they are true or not is irrelevant.”

Stories Motivational Motivation Morality Myth Irrelevant

Book:Skeptic: Viewing the World with a Rational Eye

Source: Skeptic: Viewing the World with a Rational Eye

“But because we live in an age of science, we have a preoccupation with corroborating our myths.”

Age Science Myth Preoccupation

Author:Michael Shermer

“Plato wove historical fact into literary myth.”

Facts Historical Myth Plato Historical Facts

Book:Skeptic: Viewing the World with a Rational Eye

Source: Skeptic: Viewing the World with a Rational Eye

“Myths, whether in written or visual form, serve a vital role of asking unanswerable questions and providing unquestionable answers. Most of us, most of the time, have a low tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty. We want to reduce the cognitive dissonance of not knowing by filling the gaps with answers. Traditionally, religious myths have served that role, but today — the age of science — science fiction is our mythology.”

“Creationists have also changed their name ... to intelligent design theorists who study 'irreducible complexity' and the 'abrupt appearance' of life-yet more jargon for 'God did it.' ... Notice that they have no interest in replacing evolution with native American creation myths or including the Code of Hammarabi alongside the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools.”

“Myths are about the human struggle to deal with the great passages of time and life--birth, death, marriage, the transitions from childhood to adulthood to old age. They meet a need in the psychological or spiritual nature of humans that has absolutely nothing to do with science. To try to turn a myth into a science, or a science into a myth, is an insult to myths, an insult to religion, and an insult to science. In attempting to do this, creationists have missed the significance, meaning, and sublime nature of myths. They took a beautiful story of creation and re-creation and ruined it.”