The Work of Michael Shermer » multimedia http://www.michaelshermer.com books, essays, columns, reviews, and multimedia clips of famed skeptic Michael Shermer Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:15:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Singularity 101: Be Skeptical! (Even of Skeptics) http://www.michaelshermer.com/2012/01/singularity-101/ http://www.michaelshermer.com/2012/01/singularity-101/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:30:43 +0000 Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/?p=2794 Michael Shermer appeared on the Singularity 1 on 1 podcast after meeting its creator, Nikola (a.k.a “Socrates”), at a recent Singularity Summit in New York (watch Michael’s lecture). Discussion included a variety of topics such as: Michael’s education at a Christian college and original interest in religion and theology; his eventual transition to atheism, skepticism, science and the scientific method; SETI, the singularity and religion; scientific progress and the dots on the curve as precursors of big breakthroughs; life-extension, cloning and mind uploading; being a skeptic and an optimist at the same time; the “social singularity”; global warming; the tricky balance between being a skeptic while still being able to learn and make progress.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST AUDIO, or watch the videos below:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

]]> http://www.michaelshermer.com/2012/01/singularity-101/feed/ 0 Life has Never Been So Good? http://www.michaelshermer.com/2012/01/life-has-never-been-so-good/ http://www.michaelshermer.com/2012/01/life-has-never-been-so-good/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:14:31 +0000 Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/?p=2790 Michael Shermer appears on MSNBC’s Dylan Ratigan show to discuss why life is so much better now than in any other time in history.

]]> http://www.michaelshermer.com/2012/01/life-has-never-been-so-good/feed/ 0 Social Singularity: Why Things Are Getting Progressively Better http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/10/social-singularity/ http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/10/social-singularity/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:24:17 +0000 Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/?p=2662 Michael Shermer discusses the problem of tribalism, which we inherited from our primate ancestors, and which we must overcome if we are to achieve a stable and just global society. This lecture was recorded on October 15, 2011 at the Singularity Summit in New York.

]]> http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/10/social-singularity/feed/ 3 Transhumanism, the Singularity and Skepticism http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/10/transhumanism-singularity-and-skepticism/ http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/10/transhumanism-singularity-and-skepticism/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:40:31 +0000 Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/?p=2657 Michael Shermer is interviewed about his views on the future of Artificial Intelligence, the technological singularity, transhumanism, and skepticism. This is not something that Michael Shermer usually talks about. Michael also spoke at the Singularity Summit in the US this year (2011). This footage was taken at the 2011 Think Inc conference in Melbourne.

]]> http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/10/transhumanism-singularity-and-skepticism/feed/ 5 The Nightline Face-off: Does God Have a Future? Deepak Chopra v. Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/10/the-nightline-face-off-does-god-have-a-future-deepak-chopra-v-michael-shermer/ http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/10/the-nightline-face-off-does-god-have-a-future-deepak-chopra-v-michael-shermer/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:07:03 +0000 Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/?p=2628 Science and faith do battle as archrivals Michael Shermer and Deepak Chopra debate in this ABC Nightline Face-off from March 2010. This video has 12 parts. You can click to the next part at the end of each part.

You can also watch the debate on ABCNews.

]]> http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/10/the-nightline-face-off-does-god-have-a-future-deepak-chopra-v-michael-shermer/feed/ 0 The Believing Brain lecture at the University of Melbourne http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/09/the-believing-brain-lecture-in-melbourne/ http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/09/the-believing-brain-lecture-in-melbourne/#comments Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:00:23 +0000 Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/?p=2611 In this talk (recorded at the Copland Theatre, University of Melbourne on 19 September 2011) Dr. Michael Shermer presents his comprehensive and provocative theory on how humans form beliefs and reinforce them as truths. He answers the questions of how and why we believe what we do in all aspects of our lives, from our suspicions and superstitions to our politics, economics and social beliefs.

]]> http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/09/the-believing-brain-lecture-in-melbourne/feed/ 0 “You’ve Got…” on AOL http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/09/shermer-on-youve-got-on-aol/ http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/09/shermer-on-youve-got-on-aol/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 21:46:32 +0000 Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/?p=2605 Skeptic magazine editor Michael Shermer discusses why people are often duped…

]]> http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/09/shermer-on-youve-got-on-aol/feed/ 0 The Way of the Mister, Vol. 1: Reparative Therapy http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/09/the-way-of-the-mister-vol1/ http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/09/the-way-of-the-mister-vol1/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 06:46:59 +0000 Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/?p=2599 This is the first of what will be a series of videos on differing topics. “The Way of the Mister” videos continue the ethos of the Mr. Deity worldview, but branch out in ways that would not work within the the Deity cosmography or with the Deity characters. It is the cast’s desire to do more videos like this, and the ideas are pouring out of Brian Dalton. But many of them require bigger budgets than they currently have and they’re hoping to rectify that with a non-profit organization which will focus on this broader mission — to educate with humor and satire.

Michael Shermer has a short cameo in this episode.

]]> http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/09/the-way-of-the-mister-vol1/feed/ 0 34 Answers About Belief http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/08/34-answers-about-belief/ http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/08/34-answers-about-belief/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:09:21 +0000 Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/?p=2551 In this YouTube video series for Mahalo.com, Michael Shermer answers 34 questions about belief and rationality. Mahalo.com is an education-based website revolving around original video content filmed in Santa Monica, CA. The site aims to help people learn how to do anything and everything.

Among the 34 videos, you’ll find:

Below is the second of the 34 videos. The entire series (total running time: 50 min. 32 seconds) can be viewed as a playlist on YouTube.

]]> http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/08/34-answers-about-belief/feed/ 0 Mr. Deity and the Believing Brain http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/08/mr-deity-and-the-believing-brain/ http://www.michaelshermer.com/2011/08/mr-deity-and-the-believing-brain/#comments Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:41:41 +0000 Michael Shermer http://www.michaelshermer.com/?p=2541 Mr. Deity seeks help from Michael Shermer to make his creatures more gullible.

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