12. Derren Brown — Magic, Happiness, and Skepticism
The Michael Shermer Show
00:00
Balancing Optimism with Realism
The speaker discusses the trend of denying tragedy and focusing on optimism prevalent in Western culture since the 19th century. This mindset, heavily influenced by the new thought movement, emphasizes the belief in positivity and self-belief. However, the speaker points out that this can lead to a simplistic and unrealistic approach, as seen in the reaction to financial crises where people believe that just wanting something badly is enough.
Transcript
Play full episode
