Quotes from Michael Shermer

On Being Sane in Insane Places

Scientists are knowledge capitalists who produce scientific papers that report the results of experiments conducted to test (and usually support) the hegemonic theories that reinforce the status quo.

When people feel that their voices are heard—and can see real change made—they are less likely to exit. Conversely, when voices are not heard—as when nations silence political dissenters by locking them up or executing them—exit becomes the only viable strategy for change, and that can lead to violence. In

Evolution does not just produce new species; it produces an increasing number of new species.

Natural rights theory arose during the Enlightenment to counter the belief in the divine right of kings, and became the basis of the social contract that gave rise to democracy, a superior system for the protection of human rights. This is what the English philosopher John Locke had in mind in his 1690 Second Treatise of Government (written to rebut Sir Robert Filmer's 1680 Patriarcha, which defended the divine right of kings8

Placed on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise and rudely great … He hangs between; in doubt to act or rest; In doubt to deem himself a god, or beast; In doubt his mind or body to prefer; Born but to die, and reasoning but to err.

As Adam Smith noted in The Wealth of Nations , "Society cannot subsist among those who are at all times ready to hurt and injure one another.… If there is any society among robbers and murderers, they must at least Ã¢â'¬Â¦ abstain from robbing and murdering one another.

Morality involves how we think and act toward other sentient beings and whether our thoughts and actions are right (good) or wrong (bad) with regard to their survival and flourishing.

Morality involves how we think and act toward other moral agents in terms of whether our thoughts and actions are right or wrong with regard to their survival and flourishing.

As noted previously, a principle of moral good is this: if other persons are involved in an action, then always act with their good in mind, and never act in a way that it leads to their loss or suffering (through force or fraud).

7. The principle of reciprocal altruism—I'll scratch your back if you'll scratch mine"—is universal; people do not by nature give generously unless they receive something in return, even if what they receive is social status. 8. The principle of moralistic punishment—I'll punish you if you do not scratch my back after I have scratched yours—is universal; people do not long tolerate free riders who continually take but almost never give.

The almost universal nature of within-group amity and between-group enmity, wherein the rule-of-thumb heuristic is to trust in-group members until they prove otherwise to be distrustful, and to distrust out-group members until they prove otherwise to be trustful.

The almost universal desire of people to trade with one another, not for the selfless benefit of others or the society, but for the selfish benefit of one's own kin and kind; it is an unintended consequence that trade establishes trust between strangers and lowers between-group enmity, as well as produces greater wealth for both trading partners and groups.

It's an uphill battle, especially because many religious people still believe that being gay is a sin and a crime and, therefore, by their logic, "if homosexuals are allowed their civil rights, then so would prostitutes, thieves, and anyone else." These words were spoken by Anita Bryant—former entertainer and orange juice representative—who now has the honor of an award in her name, to be given to lucky winners for "unbridled and unparalleled bigotry.

Consideration of the method used in diverse orders of knowledge allows for the concordance of two points of view which seem irreconcilable. The sciences of observation describe and measure with ever greater precision the multiple manifestations of life … while theology extracts … the final meaning according to the Creator's designs.

Switzerland has changed the status of animals to "beings" instead of "things," and Germany was the first nation to grant animals a constitutional right when they added the words "and animal" to a provision obliging the state to respect and protect human dignity.

Many Christians actually believe they are being charitable by proclaiming that they "hate the sin, not the sinner," which is not dissimilar to what Christians declared just before torching women as witches to save their souls, or when Christians called for pogroms against Jews for being Christ killers.

By contrast, in a reason-based worldview like that of Enlightenment humanism in which the principle of interchangeable perspectives means that no one can reasonably argue for special privilege over others, morality shifts from the vantage point of the group to that of the individual, and instead of working toward some unfounded and unattainable utopian ideology in the distant future, the political system is designed to solve specific problems that are obtainable in the here and now.

Well, which is the most rational theory about these ten millions of species? Is it most likely that there have been ten millions of special creations? or is it most likely that, by continual modifications due to change of circumstances, ten millions of varieties have been produced, as varieties are being produced still?"4 It's a good question.

Burden of Proof, or, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Modern whales retain a tiny pelvis for hind legs that existed in their land mammal ancestors but have disappeared today.

In a 2009 Harris Poll of 2,303 adult Americans, people were asked to "indicate for each [category below] if you believe in it, or not." The results were revealing.1 God 82 % Miracles 76 % Heaven 75 % Jesus is God or the Son of God 73 % Angels 72 % Survival of the soul after death 71 %

The Leviathan reduces violence by asserting a monopoly on the legitimate use of force, thereby replacing what criminologists call "self-help justice"—in which individuals settle their own scores and disputes, often violently (such as the Mafia)—with criminal justice, leading overall to a decrease in violence.

Lacking a good explanation, the mind defaults to whatever explanation is on the table, regardless of how improbable it may be.