Science operates in the natural, not the supernatural. In fact, I go so far as to state that there is no such thing as the supernatural or the paranormal.
Michael ShermerRead
I’m a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Skepticism arises from a desire for knowledge rather than a refusal to believe.
In this quote, Michael Shermer conveys that being a skeptic is not about rejecting the possibility of belief, but rather a pursuit for deeper understanding and truth. It highlights the importance of inquiry and critical thinking as essential tools for gaining knowledge, suggesting that the desire to know is a driving force behind skepticism.
Themes
SkepticismKnowledgeTruthInquiryBelief
In practice
Example use cases
In a classroom discussion about scientific method.
More from Michael Shermer
All quotes →Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons.
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Being deeply knowledgeable on one subject narrows one's focus and increases confidence, but it also blurs dissenting views until they are no longer visible, thereby transforming data collection into bias confirmation and morphing self-deception into self-assurance.
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How can we find spiritual meaning in a scientific worldview? Spirituality is a way of being in the world, a sense of one’s place in the cosmos, a relationship to that which extends beyond oneself. . . . Does scientific explanation of the world diminish its spiritual beauty? I think not. Science and spirituality are complementary, not conflicting; additive, not detractive. Anything that generates a sense of awe may be a source of spirituality. Science does this in spades. (158-159)
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But because we live in an age of science, we have a preoccupation with corroborating our myths.
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My libertarian beliefs have not always served me well. Like most people who hold strong ideological convictions, I find that, too often, my beliefs trump the scientific facts.
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