The Believing Brain

From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies How We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them as Truths

Autor*innen

• Michael Shermer

Parameter

• 400 Seiten
• 14 Lesestunden

• Philosophisches Thema
• Psychologische Thematik
• Religiöse Themen
• Sachbücher
• Wissenschaft

Mehr zum Buch

In this comprehensive and provocative work, bestselling author Michael Shermer explores how beliefs are born, formed, reinforced, challenged, changed, and extinguished. Drawing on thirty years of research, Shermer, a psychologist and historian of science, challenges traditional views on belief formation. He posits that beliefs come first, with explanations following. The brain acts as a belief engine, processing sensory data to identify patterns and infusing them with meaning. These patterns evolve into beliefs, which the brain then seeks to confirm, creating a positive-feedback loop that reinforces them. Shermer details the cognitive tools our brains use to treat these beliefs as truths. Throughout the narrative, he offers numerous real-world examples from various domains, including politics, economics, religion, conspiracy theories, the supernatural, and the paranormal. Ultimately, he argues that science is the most effective means of assessing whether a belief aligns with reality.

• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2011
• Einband: Hardcover