Atheists And Christians Community Blog - Latest Comments in Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:18:29 -0000

Agreed, Boom. Thanks for your comments. :-)

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

boomSLANG — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:14:28 -0000

(Hi again, Mike and Mike's Dad)

As a non-theist, I speak only for myself when I say that my "bias" is this: I'm biased to find out, and thus, believe, whatever stands the greatest change of actually being true. I don't see any credible evidence for the existence of invisible, conscious beings...whether it be, "Yahweh", "Allah", "Neptune", or any of the myriad deities that at one time or another were worshipped and believed to have existed.

If an Atheist says they are "certain" that a "God" does not exist, they misrepresent the term "Atheist". There may very well be an invisible, undefinable, unknowable, disembodied "mind" somewhere in the Universe, and/or, "outside" of the Universe, and we might "call" that "thing" a "God". Thus, we cannot make such statements about non-existence with absolute "certainty". Of course, the Christian biblegod - as represented by doctrine, and as represented by its proponents - is a different ball of wax.

See ya around,

boom'

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:46:41 -0000

Indeed!

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

David — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:37:00 -0000

With the last name Lehrer how could you be wrong?

Lehrer = teacher in German.

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:23:02 -0000

Without examples, I can only assume that you have bought into Creationist propaganda. Evolution is not an area I know a lot about, but I still research claims when presented. I know quite a few Bible believing born again Christians that realize that God is big enough that he could have easily designed and used evolution if he so chose.

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Karla — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:12:25 -0000

I guess I don't have as much faith in scientist as you do to think they will admit when they are wrong. Much of what Darwin wrote about was disproven by his contemporaries and yet his theories are still put in school text books as fact. His diagrams were all wrong and yet they are still given today.

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:30:22 -0000

If something is learned and later contradicted, the new theory is held and the old is discarded. So if it were discovered that certainty did not have a neurological basis , he would accept that. I'm sure he would also acknowledge, if he were absolutely certain of his findings, that his theory would apply to him too, however, scientists admit when they are wrong.

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Karla — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:01:39 -0000

Explain please.

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:07:03 -0000

I haven't read any of McLaren's books, but I find him and the emergent church interesting. I think I have one of his books in the massive pile of books I have accumulated since my de-conversion. I'd like to read Burton's book too, maybe once I'm settled in the new house.

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

FrScott — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:08:11 -0000

Brian McLaren refers to this phenomenon as "foundationalism" (the idea that there are some basic ideas that a given culture agrees are "true" without question, i.e., the idea of progress in American culture). He warns that foundationalism leads to excessive confidence (i.e., manifest destiny, the invasion of Iraq, slavery, 19t9h century personal salvation missionary movements, etc.). Very interesting to be enlightened that there is a neurological basis for these things.

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:46:02 -0000

I'm pretty sure you know science doesn't work that way.

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Karla — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:22:24 -0000

Does the author think his research to be right? He must be certain enough to write a book about it. Hmmm . . .

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Mike aka MonolithTMA — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:31:45 -0000

You were right!

Re: Scientific American - The Certainty Bias: A Potentially Dangerous Mental Flaw

Dad — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:30:57 -0000

I was pretty sure you'd like this article:-) Makes sense to me.