The Gray Area with Sean Illing Neil deGrasse Tyson gets political
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Oct 13, 2022 
Neil deGrasse Tyson, renowned astrophysicist and author, delves into the intersection of science and politics in his latest book, Starry Messenger. He advocates for adopting a scientific approach to tackle societal issues, arguing it could facilitate clearer dialogues. Tyson discusses the impact of social media on political discourse and how personal biases can distort truths. He also encourages viewers to embrace a 'cosmic perspective' to reassess humanity's priorities while pondering whether scientists should play a larger role in governance.
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Walmart Example
- Neil deGrasse Tyson shared a fact about Walmart's policies on AR-15s and pop albums.
- Reactions were split between gun control and free speech, proving people argue based on existing biases.
Objective Truth vs. Opinion
- People will argue even against facts if those facts contradict their opinions.
- This behavior, as Neil deGrasse Tyson notes, undermines informed democracy.
Human Irrationality
- Humans, despite self-proclaimed intelligence, exhibit irrationalities like warring over trivial differences.
- A more intelligent species, observing our behavior, might not consider us intelligent at all.
