The believing brain : from ghosts and gods to politics and conspiracies--how we construct beliefs and reinforce them as truths / Michael Shermer.
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TextPublication details: New York : Times Books, 2011.Edition: 1st edDescription: xii, 385 p. : ill. ; 25 cmISBN: - 9780805091250
- 153.4 22
- BF773 .S54 2011
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Raman Research Institute Library | 501:301 SHE (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | Available | 26578 |
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| 501:301 SAR Science policy and national development | 501:301 SCH "In the shadow of the bomb: Oppenheimer, Bethe, and the moral responsibility of the scientist." | 501:301 SHA She: the incredible | 501:301 SHE The believing brain : | 501:301 SHE The science of good and evil : | 501:301 SRE Science, technology, and society / | 501:301 STR Science and the educated man: Selected speeches |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
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.
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