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
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Ideological beliefs can sometimes overshadow objective truths.
In this quote, Michael Shermer reflects on the conflict between personal beliefs and scientific evidence. He acknowledges that strong convictions, particularly libertarian ones, may lead individuals to prioritize their ideology over factual information, highlighting a common human tendency to distort or reject scientific findings in favor of entrenched opinions.
Themes
BeliefsScienceIdeologyTruthConvictions
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about climate change, this quote can illustrate how beliefs can cloud judgment.
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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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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