Michael Shermer on Pathways to Evil, Part 2
Dr. Michael Shermer fleshes out the themes of Part 1 by exploring how the dials controlling our inner demons and better angels can be dialed up or down depending on circumstances and conditions. Are we all good apples but occasionally bad barrels turn good apples rotten, or do we all harbor the capacity to turn bad? (Note: The last video clip that was to appear at about 1:14:30, from “The Ascent of Man, Episode 11: Knowledge or Certainty,” had to be cut from this video due to a copyright claim from BBC Studios.) This lecture is part of a course that Dr. Shermer teaches at Chapman University called Skepticism 101: How to Think Like a Scientist which covers a wide range of topics, from critical thinking, reasoning, rationality, cognitive biases and how thinking goes wrong, and the scientific methods, to actual claims and whether or not there is any truth to them, e.g., ESP, ETIs, UFOs, astrology, channelling, psychics, creationism, Holocaust denial, and especially conspiracy theories and how to think about them. ORDER THE MORAL ARC https://shop.skeptic.com/the-moral-arc-first-edition-autographed-hardcover-by-michael-shermer SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE SKEPTICS SOCIETY You play a vital part in our commitment to promote science and reason. If you enjoyed this lecture, please show your support by making a donation to the Skeptics Society. Your generous support will help ensure that we can continue sharing sound scientific viewpoints worldwide. https://www.skeptic.com/donate/ Learn more about Skeptic Magazine & the work of the Skeptics Society https://www.skeptic.com/
Dr. Michael Shermer fleshes out the themes of Part 1 by exploring how the dials controlling our inner demons and better angels can be dialed up or down depending on circumstances and conditions. Are we all good apples but occasionally bad barrels turn good apples rotten, or do we all harbor the capacity to turn bad? (Note: The last video clip that was to appear at about 1:14:30, from “The Ascent of Man, Episode 11: Knowledge or Certainty,” had to be cut from this video due to a copyright claim from BBC Studios.) This lecture is part of a course that Dr. Shermer teaches at Chapman University called Skepticism 101: How to Think Like a Scientist which covers a wide range of topics, from critical thinking, reasoning, rationality, cognitive biases and how thinking goes wrong, and the scientific methods, to actual claims and whether or not there is any truth to them, e.g., ESP, ETIs, UFOs, astrology, channelling, psychics, creationism, Holocaust denial, and especially conspiracy theories and how to think about them. ORDER THE MORAL ARC https://shop.skeptic.com/the-moral-arc-first-edition-autographed-hardcover-by-michael-shermer SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE SKEPTICS SOCIETY You play a vital part in our commitment to promote science and reason. If you enjoyed this lecture, please show your support by making a donation to the Skeptics Society. Your generous support will help ensure that we can continue sharing sound scientific viewpoints worldwide. https://www.skeptic.com/donate/ Learn more about Skeptic Magazine & the work of the Skeptics Society https://www.skeptic.com/