Michael Shermer on Truth, Skepticism, and Navigating Misinformation
The Rubin ReportFebruary 1, 202646 min23,590 views
25 connections·40 entities in this video→The State of Truth and Trust
- 📉 Truth and trust in institutions have significantly eroded, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic and the politicization of science.
- ⚠️ Policymakers and scientists often feel pressured to present definitive answers (100% certainty) rather than probabilistic, Bayesian assessments, leading to public distrust when recommendations change.
- 🏛️ While independent journalism is a positive development, relying on a single source remains problematic; sampling multiple independent journalists is crucial.
Defining and Finding Truth
- 💡 Truth (with a small 't') is defined as something confirmed to a degree that warrants provisional assent, acknowledging that one can change their mind based on new evidence.
- 🧠 Bayesian reasoning is presented as a method for evaluating claims by assessing new evidence and updating prior beliefs.
- 🗣️ The
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Transcript173 segments
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What’s Discussed
Michael ShermerTruthSkepticismMisinformationConspiracy TheoriesBayesian ReasoningPoliticization of ScienceTrust in InstitutionsAIDeepfakesUFOsUAPsHistorical RevisionismSkeptic Magazine
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