Michael Shermer quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Michael Shermer

Michael Shermer Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Michael Shermer on Wise Famous Quotes.

Michael Shermer quotes: For solving a surprisingly large and varied number of problems, crowds are smarter than individuals.

For solving a surprisingly large and varied number of problems, crowds are smarter than individuals.

Michael Shermer quotes: Anecdotal thinking comes naturally; science requires training.

Anecdotal thinking comes naturally; science requires training.

Michael Shermer quotes: But the power of science lies in open publication, which, with the rise of the Internet, is no longer constrained by the price of paper.

But the power of science lies in open publication, which, with the rise of the Internet, is no longer constrained by the price of paper.

Michael Shermer quotes: Scientific prayer makes God a celestial lab rat, leading to bad science and worse religion.

Scientific prayer makes God a celestial lab rat, leading to bad science and worse religion.

Michael Shermer quotes: An uncertain and doubting mind leads to fresh world visions and the possibility of new and ever-changing realities.

An uncertain and doubting mind leads to fresh world visions and the possibility of new and ever-changing realities.

Michael Shermer quotes: We are a fluke of nature, a quirk of evolution, a glorious contingency.

We are a fluke of nature, a quirk of evolution, a glorious contingency.

Michael Shermer quotes: Absolute morality leads logically to absolute intolerance.

Absolute morality leads logically to absolute intolerance.

Michael Shermer quotes: Accepting evolution does not force us to jettison our morals and ethics, and rejecting evolution does not ensure their constancy.

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

Michael Shermer quotes: We think of our eyes as video cameras and our brains as blank tapes to be filled with sensory inputs.

We think of our eyes as video cameras and our brains as blank tapes to be filled with sensory inputs.

Michael Shermer quotes: Tenure in any department is serious business, because it means, essentially, employment for life.

Tenure in any department is serious business, because it means, essentially, employment for life.

Michael Shermer quotes: Skepticism is not a position; skepticism is an approach to claims, in the same way that science is not a subject but a method.

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

Michael Shermer quotes: Humans are pattern-seeking story-telling animals, and we are quite adept at telling stories about patterns, whether they exist or not.

Humans are pattern-seeking story-telling animals, and we are quite adept at telling stories about patterns, whether they exist or not.

Michael Shermer quotes: The belief that all knowledge is culturally determined and therefore lacks certainty is largely the product of an uncertain cultural milieu.

The belief that all knowledge is culturally determined and therefore lacks certainty is largely the product of an uncertain cultural milieu.

Michael Shermer quotes: But because we live in an age of science, we have a preoccupation with corroborating our myths.

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

Michael Shermer quotes: Myths are stories that express meaning, morality or motivation. Whether they are true or not is irrelevant.

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

Michael Shermer quotes: Reality exists independent of human minds, but our understanding of it depends upon the beliefs we hold at any given time.

Reality exists independent of human minds, but our understanding of it depends upon the beliefs we hold at any given time.

Michael Shermer quotes: The concept of God is generated by a brain designed by evolution to find design in nature (a very recursive idea).

The concept of God is generated by a brain designed by evolution to find design in nature (a very recursive idea).

Michael Shermer quotes: Because of the complexity of the problem, environmental skepticism was once tenable. No longer. It is time to flip from skepticism to activism.

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

Michael Shermer quotes: Through no divine design or cosmic plan, we have inherited the mantle of life's caretaker on the earth, the only home we have ever known.

Through no divine design or cosmic plan, we have inherited the mantle of life's caretaker on the earth, the only home we have ever known.

Michael Shermer quotes: People believe in God because we are pattern-seeking, storytelling, mythmaking, religious, moral animals.

People believe in God because we are pattern-seeking, storytelling, mythmaking, religious, moral animals.

Michael Shermer quotes: Mammals are sentient beings that want to live and are afraid to die. Evolution vouchsafed us all with an instinct to survive, reproduce and flourish.

Mammals are sentient beings that want to live and are afraid to die. Evolution vouchsafed us all with an instinct to survive, reproduce and flourish.

Michael Shermer quotes: We know evolution happened because innumerable bits of data from myriad fields of science conjoin to paint a rich portrait of life's pilgrimage.

We know evolution happened because innumerable bits of data from myriad fields of science conjoin to paint a rich portrait of life's pilgrimage.

Michael Shermer quotes: Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons.

Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons.

Michael Shermer quotes: In principle, skeptics are neither closed-minded nor cynical. We are curious but cautious.

In principle, skeptics are neither closed-minded nor cynical. We are curious but cautious.

Michael Shermer quotes: We do not just blindly concede control to authorities; instead we follow the cues provided by our moral communities on how best to behave.

We do not just blindly concede control to authorities; instead we follow the cues provided by our moral communities on how best to behave.

Michael Shermer quotes: Being a skeptic just means being rational and empirical: thinking and seeing before believing.

Being a skeptic just means being rational and empirical: thinking and seeing before believing.

Michael Shermer quotes: Skepticism is not a position; it's a process.

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

Michael Shermer quotes: Either the soul survives death or it does not, and there is no scientific evidence that it does.

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

Michael Shermer quotes: Machine intelligence of a human nature could be a century away, and immortality is at least a millennium away, if not unattainable altogether.

Machine intelligence of a human nature could be a century away, and immortality is at least a millennium away, if not unattainable altogether.

Michael Shermer quotes: I'm a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.

I'm a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.

Michael Shermer quotes: There is no such thing as the supernatural or the paranormal. There is only the natural, the normal, and mysteries we have yet to explain.

There is no such thing as the supernatural or the paranormal. There is only the natural, the normal, and mysteries we have yet to explain.

Michael Shermer quotes: Providentially, learned habits can be unlearned, especially in the context of moral groups.

Providentially, learned habits can be unlearned, especially in the context of moral groups.

Michael Shermer quotes: To be a fully functioning moral agent, one cannot passively accept moral principles handed down by fiat. Moral principles require moral reasoning.

To be a fully functioning moral agent, one cannot passively accept moral principles handed down by fiat. Moral principles require moral reasoning.

Michael Shermer quotes: When alien abductees recount to me their stories, I do not deny that they had a real experience.

When alien abductees recount to me their stories, I do not deny that they had a real experience.

Michael Shermer quotes: But there is only one surefire method of proper pattern recognition, and that is science.

But there is only one surefire method of proper pattern recognition, and that is science.

Michael Shermer quotes: In science, if an idea is not falsifiable, it is not that it is wrong, it is that we cannot determine if it is wrong, and thus it is not

In science, if an idea is not falsifiable, it is not that it is wrong, it is that we cannot determine if it is wrong, and thus it is not even wrong.

Michael Shermer quotes: The reason is that in a group, individual errors on either side of the true figure cancel each other out.

The reason is that in a group, individual errors on either side of the true figure cancel each other out.

Michael Shermer quotes: The principal barrier to a general acceptance of the monist position is that it is counterintuitive.

The principal barrier to a general acceptance of the monist position is that it is counterintuitive.

Michael Shermer quotes: Remember always that we are pattern-seeking primates who are especially adept at finding patterns with emotional meaning.

Remember always that we are pattern-seeking primates who are especially adept at finding patterns with emotional meaning.

Michael Shermer quotes: Human history is highly nonlinear and unpredictable.

Human history is highly nonlinear and unpredictable.

Michael Shermer quotes: I care what is actually true, even more than what I hope is true.

I care what is actually true, even more than what I hope is true.

Michael Shermer quotes: Skepticism is not a position that you stake out ahead of time and stick to no matter what.

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

Michael Shermer quotes: I just witnessed an event so mysterious that it shook my skepticism.

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

Michael Shermer quotes: False belief that morality can have a unique and objective state - to

False belief that morality can have a unique and objective state - to

Michael Shermer quotes: The fate of the paranormal is to become the normal as our horizons of understanding expand.

The fate of the paranormal is to become the normal as our horizons of understanding expand.

Michael Shermer quotes: In the long run, it is better to understand the way the world really is rather than how we would like it to be.

In the long run, it is better to understand the way the world really is rather than how we would like it to be.

Michael Shermer quotes: Rationality tied to moral decency is the most powerful joint instrument for good that our planet has ever known.

Rationality tied to moral decency is the most powerful joint instrument for good that our planet has ever known.

Michael Shermer quotes: The "hypocrite" is the critic who disguises his own failings by focusing attention on the failings of others.

The "hypocrite" is the critic who disguises his own failings by focusing attention on the failings of others.

Michael Shermer quotes: Conspiracies are a perennial favorite for television producers because there is always a receptive audience.

Conspiracies are a perennial favorite for television producers because there is always a receptive audience.

Michael Shermer quotes: Dualists hold that body and soul are separate entities and that the soul will continue beyond the existence of the physical body.

Dualists hold that body and soul are separate entities and that the soul will continue beyond the existence of the physical body.

Michael Shermer quotes: There is a significant difference between having no belief in a God and believing there is no God ...

There is a significant difference between having no belief in a God and believing there is no God ...

Michael Shermer quotes: Flawed as they may be, science and the secular Enlightenment values expressed in Western democracies are our best hope for survival.

Flawed as they may be, science and the secular Enlightenment values expressed in Western democracies are our best hope for survival.

Michael Shermer quotes: Science is not a thing. It's a verb. It's a way of thinking about things. It's a way of looking for natural explanations for all phenomena.

Science is not a thing. It's a verb. It's a way of thinking about things. It's a way of looking for natural explanations for all phenomena.

Michael Shermer quotes: The whole point of faith, in fact, is to believe regardless of the evidence, which is the very antithesis of science.

The whole point of faith, in fact, is to believe regardless of the evidence, which is the very antithesis of science.

Michael Shermer quotes: Skeptics question the validity of a particular claim by calling for evidence to prove or disprove it.

Skeptics question the validity of a particular claim by calling for evidence to prove or disprove it.

Michael Shermer quotes: 'Are science and religion compatible?' It's like [asking]: 'Are science and plumbing compatible?' They're just two different things.

'Are science and religion compatible?' It's like [asking]: 'Are science and plumbing compatible?' They're just two different things.

Michael Shermer quotes: One, I am skeptical of the effectiveness of nutritional supplements.

One, I am skeptical of the effectiveness of nutritional supplements.