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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

“...Spinoza’s Conjecture:“Belief comes quickly and naturally, skepticism is slow and unnatural, and most people have a low tolerance for ambiguity. The scientific principle that a claim is untrue unless proven otherwise runs counter to our natural tendency to accept as true that which we can comprehend quickly. Thus it is that we should reward skepticism and disbelief, and champion those willing to change their mind in the teeth of new evidence. Instead, most social institutions-most notably those in religion, politics, and economics-reward belief in the doctrines of the faith or party or ideology, punish those who challenge the authority of the leaders, and discourage uncertainty and especially skepticism.”

Inspirational Reason Skepticism Rationality

Author:Michael Shermer

“Skepticism is not a position; skepticism is an approach to claims, in the same way that science is not a subject but a method.”

Way Subjects Position Approach Claims Method Skepticism

Book:Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time

Source: Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience, Superstition, and Other Confusions of Our Time

“In the past 10,000 years, humans have devised roughly 100,000 religions based on roughly 2,500 gods. So the only difference between myself and the believers is that I am skeptical of 2,500 gods whereas they are skeptical of 2,499 gods. We're only one God away from total agreement.”

Years Humans God Funny Past Religion Differences Atheism Atheist Believer Agreement Skepticism Skeptical Funny Atheist

Author:Michael Shermer

“Skepticism is not a position that you stake out ahead of time and stick to no matter what.”

Matter Position No Matter What Sticks Stakes Skepticism Ahead Of Time

Author:Michael Shermer

“Because of the complexity of the problem, environmental skepticism was once tenable. No longer. It is time to flip from skepticism to activism.”

Problem Environmental Activism Complexity Global Warming Skepticism Flip

Book:Skeptic: Viewing the World with a Rational Eye

Source: Skeptic: Viewing the World with a Rational Eye

“I just witnessed an event so mysterious that it shook my skepticism.”

Events Mysterious Skepticism

Author:Michael Shermer

“Belief is the natural state of things. It is the default option. We just believe. We believe all sorts of things. Belief is natural; disbelief, skepticism, science, is not natural.”

Believe States Inspiration Motivation Belief Natural Skepticism Disbelief Default Just Believe

Author:Michael Shermer

“Skepticism is not a position; it's a process.”

Process Position Skepticism

Author:Michael Shermer