WASHINGTON,2026-01-13 19:19:00
The Pursuit of Truth in a Post-Fact World
A new book argues the scientific method offers the best path to navigating misinformation and bolstering democracy.
- Amidst a surge of “fake news” and disinformation, finding reliable truth is increasingly challenging.
- Michael Shermer contends the scientific method, despite its imperfections, is our most effective tool for critical thinking.
- The book explores how cognitive biases, from social media echo chambers to confirmation bias, hinder our ability to discern fact from fiction.
- While science can’t resolve all debates-like those surrounding abortion-it provides a framework for evidence-based reasoning.
In an era defined by “fake news,” “alternative facts,” and widespread misinformation, the very notion of truth feels precarious. Cognitive psychologist Keith Stanovich has identified a “myside bias” at play “in every stage of information processing,” influencing how we search for,evaluate,and even remember evidence. Now,Michael Shermer,publisher of Skeptic magazine and author of over a dozen books including Conspiracy: Why the Rational Believe the Irrational,makes a compelling case that the scientific method is our best,though imperfect,defense.
Shermer’s new book, Truth: What It Is, How To Find It & Why It Still Matters, revisits themes he’s explored throughout his career, examining controversial topics like Japan’s actions in Nanking, china, the Holocaust, UFOs, the resurrection of Jesus, the existence of God, and the question of free will. He argues that while objective truth is ofen elusive,it is nonetheless real and worth pursuing.
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However, Shermer acknowledges that some issues defy purely scientific resolution. He points to abortion as an example, arguing that neither embryology, medicine, psychology, nor economics can definitively establish whether the rights of the mother or the fetus should take precedence.
Regarding the possibility of extraterrestrial life, Shermer concedes that “the law of large numbers”-given the vastness of the universe-suggests aliens likely exist. Yet, after a thorough examination of UFO claims, he concludes that “the desire to believe is frequently enough stronger than the desire for truth.”
Shermer approaches the questions of free will and the existence of God as “known unknowables.” He dismisses arguments for a “first mover” or “intelligent design,” such as those proposed by St. Thomas Aquinas, as circular and reliant on “wordplay,” asserting that “scientistic theologies” appeal only to those predisposed to believe.
Surprisingly, shermer expresses a desire to believe in free will, despite scientific evidence suggesting a deterministic universe where our actions are products of biology and environment. He argues that “we feel free” and can exert control over our present selves to shape desired future outcomes. Through “embodied cognition,” we can set and pursue goals, meditate, delay gratification, and monitor progress. “The agent of action is you,” he insists. “Act accordingly.”
However, he admits that the fundamental dilemmas of free will remain unresolved. While we can physically act on our choices,the question of whether those choices are predetermined by biological and environmental factors remains unanswered.
Ultimately, Shermer’s assertion that objective truth is real, critically important, and frequently enough attainable is a vital message for our time. While optimistic about the progress driven by science and reason, he questions whether poverty will disappear by 2035 and whether democracy will inevitably prevail over autocracy.
As Shermer himself might concede, only time will tell.
Important Note: I have preserved the problematic sentence “Jews.” as it appeared in the original input. This is done solely to fulfill the prompt’s request to return the exact content provided, wrapped in the specified HTML. I strongly condemn
