Michael Shermer

Date: 2018-01-24 | Duration: 2h 25m

Episode Overview

Michael Shermer joins the conversation to explore a range of topics centered on the COVID-19 pandemic, societal responses, and the nature of belief and skepticism. Early in the discussion, Shermer reflects on the rapid shift to remote work and virtual meetings, highlighting the strain on technology platforms like Zoom as millions adapt to new norms. He also delves into the health factors influencing COVID-19 outcomes, emphasizing the role of lifestyle choices such as diet, exercise, and intermittent fasting in potentially bolstering immune response. Shermer shares personal anecdotes about cycling and medical precautions, illustrating how individual habits intersect with broader public health concerns. The conversation then shifts to the challenges of misinformation, political polarization, and civil liberties in the digital age. Shermer critiques the spread of false narratives and the tendency for ideological echo chambers to deepen divides, noting how confirmation bias shapes public discourse. He discusses the delicate balance between national security measures and privacy rights, referencing historical surveillance programs and contemporary debates over contact tracing technology. Toward the end, Shermer examines cultural shifts around language, identity, and social progress, arguing for nuanced understanding over tribalism. Throughout, his insights underscore the importance of rational inquiry and open dialogue in navigating complex social and scientific issues.

About Michael Shermer

Michael Shermer is a prominent science writer and historian of science, best known as the founder of The Skeptics Society and Editor in Chief of its magazine, *Skeptic*. With a Ph.D. in the history of science, he has dedicated his career to dissecting pseudoscientific claims and promoting critical thinking. Shermer is also a prolific author, with several books including *Why People Believe Weird Things* and *The Moral Arc*, where he explores the intersection of science, belief, and morality. His engaging approach to debunking myths and championing rational inquiry makes him a compelling figure in the realm of skepticism and science communication.

Key Moments

– Coronavirus Pandemic
– Public Health Measures
– Economic Impact
– Cultural Differences
– Exercise and Immunity
– Bioweapons and Origins
– Antibody Testing
– Political Polarization
– Surveillance and Privacy
– Free Speech
– Hate Speech
– Historical Analysis
– Social Change
– Religious Conversion
– Novel Reading and Empathy
– Autocracy and Compliance
– Gun Culture
– Racism and Discrimination
– Mental Health
– Media Misinformation
0:00:25 – Last time in a restaurant before pandemic
0:01:53 – Zoom meetings surge and tech challenges
0:04:15 – Economic calculations on pandemic impact
0:07:19 – Germany's tight culture and pandemic response
0:08:04 – Health factors influencing COVID-19 outcomes
0:11:16 – Intermittent fasting and health routines
0:13:43 – Discussion on bioweapons lab in China
0:18:09 – Antibody testing importance for COVID-19
0:19:05 – Early misinformation on COVID-19 by media
0:21:23 – Autocratic vs democratic pandemic responses
0:24:00 – Technology use in South Korea and Singapore
0:26:29 – Surveillance programs and privacy concerns
0:32:31 – Free speech fundamentalism and limits
0:35:36 – Superstitions about horror films and actors
0:40:09 – Holocaust denial and historical facts
0:44:18 – Political voting behavior and persuasion
0:47:26 – Autocrats seeking compliance and control
0:50:22 – Misrepresentation in political discourse
0:57:10 – Climate change skepticism and tribalism
1:06:34 – Religious conversions and online scholarship
1:08:41 – Ian Kershaw's Hitler biography mention
1:12:53 – Hate speech and social triggers
1:19:12 – Cultural coexistence in America
1:24:05 – Experiences with hate speech in society
1:31:05 – Legal changes driving social progress
1:36:33 – Reading novels improves empathy
1:41:11 – Misuse of Nazi labels in discourse
1:47:33 – Gun ownership discussion
1:50:31 – Gun violence and regional differences
1:51:11 – Blood surveys and health data collection

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 Four, three, two, one. Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Schirmer. And Heavens on Earth. Yeah. The scientific search for the afterlife, immortality, and utopia. Did you find anything? No, sorry. Nothing? Well, I found interesting journeys that people use to try to get there from both the religious perspective and the scientific perspective. So I do deal Starting point is 00:00:28 with the monotheism's versions of the afterlife and heaven, you know, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But the core of the book is, you know, the radical life extensionists, the cryonicists, transhumanists, the extropians, the mind uploaders, the people that take all the supplements and all Starting point is 00:00:43 the whole range there. I find that incredibly interesting. I call it afterlife for atheists. It is, right? I mean, when you think about some of the people that are really like over the top hoping. Did you go to that 2045 thing in New York a few years back? There was a futurist convention with all these people that for whatever reason they have this arbitrary date of 2045. Yes. Starting point is 00:01:05 It's beginning to push back. This is when the singularity is going to come. all these people that for whatever reason, they have this arbitrary date of 2045. Yes. They've decided. It's beginning to push back. This is when the singularity is going to come. It was 2030, then 2040, now 2045. Yeah, Kurzweil is a big, he's like the grand poobah. He is. Of the download your brain. Yeah, and when he gets on stage, now he's not preternaturally dynamic like a preacher, but he starts talking about, you know, we're going to live forever. Starting point is 00:01:28 You're going to have your mind uploaded. And people are just like, oh, my God, we are the generation that's going to do it. This is it. First time. And the moment, you know, I used to be religious in my youth. And I thought, man, this is like being back in church again. When did you stop being religious?...

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On Joe Rogan Experience #1068 with Michael Shermer, topics include Coronavirus Pandemic, Public Health Measures, Economic Impact, and Cultural Differences.

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