SETI on How We Search for Aliens (w/ Seth Shostak), Facts Don’t Win Arguments, Self-Control, and The Red Baron
Jul 8, 2018
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Senior astronomer at the SETI Institute, Seth Shostak, discusses the search for aliens. Topics include self-control's downside, the Red Baron's exploits, and why facts fail in arguments. They also delve into motivated reasoning and exploring alternative biochemistry in the hunt for extraterrestrial life.
Motivated reasoning hinders fact-based arguments, emphasizing the challenge of changing entrenched beliefs.
Self-control encompasses social conformity and strategic decision-making, showcasing the nuanced nature of resisting temptations.
Deep dives
Challenges of Engaging in Online Arguments
Online arguments are difficult to win using facts due to motivated reasoning, where individuals seek and believe information supporting their views without critical evaluation. Psychological studies highlight that smart individuals are better at motivated reasoning, leading to entrenched beliefs. Overcoming biases requires questioning one's beliefs and employing the Socratic method to challenge others' views, ultimately promoting critical thinking and open-mindedness.
Complex Nature of Self-Control
Self-control is depicted as multifaceted, extending beyond a mere ability to resist temptations. Research suggests that individuals with high self-control may conform to social norms at the expense of ignoring personal instincts, leading to adverse outcomes. The key to healthy self-control lies in recognizing situations where temptation should be preempted, highlighting the importance of strategic decision-making over sheer resistance.
Search for Extraterrestrial Life Signatures
Scientists' search for extraterrestrial life focuses on familiar biochemistry, assuming carbon-based life forms akin to Earth's biology. Although the concept of alternative life chemistries, like silicon-based organisms, exists, the search predominantly targets known life parameters. The conventional approach stems from the pragmatic starting point of exploring the familiar before delving into speculative forms of life chemistry.
In this podcast, Cody Gough and Ashley Hamer discuss the following stories to help you get smarter and learn something new in just a few minutes:
Self-Control Isn't Always Good for You
The Red Baron Was a Real Person Who Absolutely Tore It Up in Battle
Motivated Reasoning Is Why You Can't Win an Argument Using Facts
Inside Pseudoscience And Conspiracy Theories [Podcast]
Plus, hear how and why we search for aliens using current methods, straight from special guest Seth Shostak. Seth Shostak is the Senior Astronomer at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California, and the Director of the Institute’s Center for SETI Research. More from Seth Shostak:
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