The believing brain : from ghosts and gods to politics and conspiracies--how we construct beliefs and reinforce them as truths
(2011)
By:
Shermer, Michael
Nonfiction
Book
Call Numbers:
153.4/SHERMER,M
Availability
Details
PUBLISHED
New York : Times Books, 2011
EDITION
First edition
DESCRIPTION
xii, 385 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
ISBN/ISSN
9780805091250, 0805091254
LANGUAGE
English
NOTES
Mr. D'Arpino's dilemma -- Dr. Collins's conversion -- A skeptic's journey -- Patternicity -- Agenticity -- The believing neuron -- Belief in the afterlife -- Belief in god -- Belief in aliens -- Belief in conspiracies -- Politics of belief -- Confirmations of belief -- Geographies of belief -- Cosmologies of belief -- Epilogue: the truth is out there
Shermer demonstrates how our brains selectively assess data in an attempt to confirm the conclusions (beliefs) we've already reached. Drawing on evolution, cognitive science, and neuroscience, he considers not only supernatural beliefs but political and economic ones as well