The Importance of Scientific Literacy and Recognizing Invalid Arguments

3min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

This chapter dives into the significance of scientific literacy in evaluating arguments and highlights the example of global warming conspiracies to demonstrate the need for understanding how science works. The speakers also discuss the role of scientific literacy in making informed decisions on topics like vaccinations and answer a question about traits that make people susceptible to conspiracy theories.

Who is pulling the strings? Who is behind the coverup? Who holds the real power, and what do they want? How deep does the conspiracy to control your mind go?

In this episode we discuss the history, social impact, neuroscience, and psychology behind conspiracy theories and paranoid thinking.

Our guests are Steven Novella and Jesse Walker. Steven is a leader in the skeptic community, host of The Skeptic's Guide to the Universe, and a neurologist at Yale University's School of Medicine. Walker is the books editor for Reason Magazine and author of the new book, The United States of Paranoia, a Conspiracy Theory.

Listen as they explain why we love conspiracy theories, how they flourish, how they harm, and what they say about a culture.

Patreon: http://patreon.com/youarenotsosmart