Never Alone: The 223rd Evolutionary Lens with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying
May 4, 2024
01:42:59
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Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying explore science, religion, and other ways of understanding the world through an evolutionary lens. They discuss models, climate change, pollution's role in Earth's temperature, and the importance of using narrative and intuition in science. The podcast also touches on the value of inquiry, freedom of thought, and the need for educators to embrace curiosity.
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Quick takeaways
Beliefs in supernatural entities can offer solace and enhance survival in dire circumstances.
Embracing complexity in scientific exploration is essential for understanding intricate biological phenomena.
Replicating field studies is challenging due to uncontrollable environmental factors, emphasizing the need to understand natural complexity.
Transparent practices and accountability are crucial for model-based research to ensure scientific credibility.
Deep dives
Understanding the Third Man Phenomenon
During dire situations on the verge of death, individuals experience a psychological phenomenon called the Third Man Syndrome, where they feel the presence of an additional figure next to them, as first described by Sir Ernest Shackleton. The belief in this presence, whether an entity like an angel or a departed relative, can provide solace and may enhance survival chances in desperate circumstances, highlighting the adaptive value of such beliefs.
The Synthesis of Reductionism and Complexity
The discussion delves into the interplay between reductionism and synthesis in scientific exploration. While reductionism involves isolating and studying individual components, synthesis integrates these findings to make sense of complex systems. The podcast provides insights on embracing complexity in scientific inquiries, especially in fields like biology, where understanding complexity is crucial for uncovering intricate phenomena.
Challenges in Replicating Field Studies
Field studies involving natural complexity pose unique challenges for replication due to uncontrollable environmental factors and the inherent complexity of natural systems. Unlike controlled lab experiments, field studies are influenced by varying conditions that make exact replication unattainable. The discussion emphasizes the importance of grappling with the inherent complexity in nature to advance scientific understanding effectively.
Limitations of Model-Based Research
The limitations of model-based research are discussed, highlighting the challenge of replicating studies that heavily rely on complex models. Unlike traditional experiments that can be replicated in controlled settings, models often incorporate numerous assumptions and uncontrollable variables, making full replication impractical. The conversation underlines the need for transparency and accountability when employing models in scientific investigations.
Scientific Publication Standards
It is vital for scientific publications to ensure that experiments can be replicated to maintain credibility. Lack of replicability due to inadequate information provided by experimenters undermines the validity of a scientific publication.
Distinguishing Complicated and Complex Systems
Understanding the difference between complicated and complex systems is crucial. While complicated systems may appear complex, they are fundamentally understandable and not fundamentally unpredictable. Models may struggle to capture truly complex systems, posing philosophical challenges.
Challenge of Statistical Analyses in Research Papers
Many research papers feature complex statistical analyses that are often incomprehensible to a significant portion of biologists. This complexity raises concerns about the integrity of data analysis and interpretation, highlighting the importance of transparent statistical practices in scientific research.
In this 223rd in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we talk about the state of the world through an evolutionary lens.
In this episode, we discuss science and religion, materialism and other ways of understanding our world. Can analysis and quantification explain everything? Can narrative, intuition, and creativity? All are or should be part of the scientific process; science is incomplete with only one mode. We also discuss models, how they fail, how difficult they are to assess, and what one recent climate model has to say about the role of air pollution in Earth’s temperature. Enlightenment values require that we use our freedom to inquire about all things that we are curious about. Also: happy Beltane!
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Mentioned in this episode:
Third Man Syndrome and Shackleton: https://twitter.com/brianroemmele/status/1785827941718614291
Clearer skies may be accelerating global warming: https://www.science.org/content/article/clearer-skies-may-be-accelerating-global-warming
Hodnebrog et al 2024. Recent reductions in aerosol emissions have increased Earth’s energy imbalance. Communications Earth & Environment, 5(1):166: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-024-01324-8
Nature editorial: What happens when climate change and the mental-health crisis collide? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00993-x
Animation about mental health and climate change: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/grantham/publications/all-publications/the-impact-of-climate-change-on-mental-health-and-emotional-wellbeing-current-evidence-and-implications-for-policy-and-practice.php
Growing up is hard to do (do not pay others to do your thinking for you): https://naturalselections.substack.com/p/growing-up-is-hard-to-do