Who believes conspiracies and why? | Michael Shermer

Michael Shermer discusses rationality, skepticism and conspiracy theories.

Is it rational to believe what other people tell you?

Nothing happens by accident, everything is connected, and there are no coincidences. That is the essence of conspiratorial thinking. Join world-famous sceptic, Michael Shermer, to explore why rational people can fall into irrational belief.

#michaelshermer #conspiracy #aliens

Michael Shermer is the founder of The Skeptics Society, the editor-in-chief of its magazine Skeptic, and a Presidential Fellow at Chapman University, where he teaches Skepticism 101.

[TheInstituteOfArtAndIdeas]

Do you believe in any conspiracy theories? Let us know in the comments below!

[Nickle]

Definition.

Conspiracy theory is what the perpetrators of crimes use to divert attention from their offences

[MaxBrix]

The two definitions for conspiracy are opposites.
1. Planning to commit a crime.
2. An outlandish, baseless allegation.

[TheGarrymoore]

Great, now Shermer should explain us why many believe the Transparency Theories.

[trevor_mounts_music]

Because they've mostly turned out to be true?

[williamralph]

His understanding of what occurred during Covid completely undermines my confidence in most of what he has to say.And I actually like and admire Michael Shermer.We knew very early on in covid what the case fatality rate was going to be, read Prof.John Ioannidis or Prof Michael Levitt.

[artandculture]

Why is art spoken of like an institutionally aligned activity? That’s a better question.

[hhwippedcream]

He doesn't allow for a third way... What people spout is signalling of ones membership in a given tribe. Many folks are able to believe that multiple conspiracies exist or a mixture of none and some. I like the film "The Cube" which illustrates the bizarre and mundane reasons believe and prioritize things the way they do.

[elmolosho]

Here comes a guys that instead of cultivating a critical thinking, hesitates on thoughts on how to challenge the status quo. We must question the generalizations on topics and be very specific, specially when he started diminishing the credibility of someone that is trying to speak with truth

[aminam]

Once upon a time there was an old man who spent his entire life building his absurd delusions and became their slave, unable to face his bitter reality (his entire life has no meaning)!

[executivesteps]

Ten minutes into it and I still learned nothing.

[Corteum]

Does he know of any conspiracies that were subsequently proven to be true?

[itorres]

They are irradiating Sherner with infrared waves to make him feel hot and sweaty. Everybody knows they don't like him speaking about this stuff.

[hhwippedcream]

Check out minute 34 through 40 (preferably more) of The Cube. This will explain folks need to understand why everything is so messed up.

[punkypinko]

Whether you agree with him on any particular point, he was very reasonable, which is the point. We need to end the political tribalism in the USA. People tend to take very polarized positions even though they have zero objective evidence -- all their evidence comes from tribal thinking.

[guy-usinu-artist]

Or… collectivist/individualist and we can be both about different subjects. Which makes all of us easily manipulated by anyone who wishes too…

[Thomas-gk]

Michael Shermer is a clear, open-minded and humanistic soul, thanks for all his work

[runabath]

Rule one there is rule two
Rule two there is rule three
Rule three break all rules 😆

[JCResDoc]

*13:00** everything is somewhere on the neurodivergent gender spectrum.* just none of us know where. _JC

[UnMoored_]

9:49 "... I side on the side of mostly rational, if you give people the tools of how to think about particular claims which you know is what i do here ..."
I am familiar with his efforts but he does not connect the origins of the susceptibility for irrational, cult-like thinking which he references in his many examples with unhealthy mental development in troubled families.

One example, which is not uncommon, is a child who may have to suppress the natural inquisitiveness which drives their mental growth, and instead adopt the fragile fantasy view that the stressed, defensive, incompetent parents are instead loving, and can do no wrong. This allows the child to reduce their stress and anxiety, so that the absolute need for attachment, which is the foundation of child development, is not threatened.

This precious fantasy narrative must then be protected at the cost of rational, independent, critical thinking. This mental contortion is a prototype of a cult mindset created by the child under duress. It is an adaptation for survival and will become unconscious and self-reinforcing, such that any factual information which challenges the fantasy narratives must be denied, and any impulse to actually question will be suppressed.

Since this adaptation is contrary to healthy development, there will be a susceptibility later in life, to to establish a social identity, by seeking social connectivity with others who share a similar mindset, which by definition, is a cult.

Overall, I find his presentations limited, and not very informative. I recommend a deep dive into the neural development of children.