DarkHorse Podcast Preventing Truth Decay: Michael Shermer on DarkHorse
Jan 11, 2026
Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine and host of The Michael Shermer Show, dives deep into the nature of truth and skepticism. He discusses how we discern truth through expertise and fallibilism, emphasizing that scientific truth is provisional and evolves over time. Shermer critiques the influence of ideologies in academia, suggesting reforms for peer review. The conversation touches on controversial topics like vaccine safety, the simulation hypothesis, and the role of religion in modernity, making for a thought-provoking dialogue.
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Provisional Scientific Truth
- Michael Shermer defines scientific truth as a claim with evidence sufficient to warrant provisional assent.
- He emphasizes fallibilism and Bayesian reasoning: never assign absolute zero or one to propositions.
The Cartesian Crisis Of Authority
- Bret Weinstein describes the Cartesian crisis: most of what we know is accepted on authority, not direct verification.
- He warns that reliance on authority is dangerous when expert quality falls.
Science Self-Corrects, Often Slowly
- Shermer points to nutrition science as slow but self-correcting despite industry influence.
- He views corruption and industry pressure as important causes of long delays in correction.
