Tuesday, June 28, 2011
4:00 AM
University of Michigan Biological Station, Gates Lecture Hall, 9133 Biological Road, Pellston, MI
This is part of our 2011 Summer Lecture Series
Scientists and intellectuals often scoff at believers of weird ideas such as psychics, ghosts, end of world prophecies, and astrology. We approach these subjects as laughable and harmless. Yet, the same thinking that leads true believers to these concepts also causes people to reject global climate change as real and accept the link between autism and vaccines. In addition, intellectuals think they are immune to such faulty beliefs and thinking. In this talk, Professor Paul Moore will discuss how people come to hold ideas and beliefs as ultimate truth and the mistakes that we all make in coming to conclusions. This talk will reveal that, in many ways, scientists and intellectuals are more susceptible to these thinking mistakes precisely because we are more intelligent. Paul Moore is a Professor of Biological Sciences at Bowling Green State University and is teaching Limnology at the Biological Station this summer session.