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
The reason people turn to supernatural explanations is that the mind abhors a vacuum of explanation. Because we do not yet have a fully natural explanation for mind and consciousness, people turn to supernatural explanations to fill the void.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People seek supernatural explanations to satisfy their need for understanding when scientific explanations are lacking.
In this quote, Michael Shermer suggests that humans have a fundamental need to understand the world around them. When faced with gaps in scientific knowledge, particularly regarding complex phenomena like consciousness, individuals often resort to supernatural beliefs or explanations to make sense of what they do not fully comprehend. This tendency reflects a deeper psychological need for answers and a resistance to ambiguity in understanding reality.
Themes
SupernaturalExplanationConsciousnessKnowledgeUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a philosophy seminar discussing the nature of belief.
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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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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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I’m a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.
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