Skeptic Michael Shermer on Atheism, Happiness, and the Free Market

Whether they're intelligent design advocates, psychics, or 9/11 truthers, Skeptic Magazine's Founding Publisher Michael Shermer says the world is full of people who believe weird things.

Shermer sat down with Reason.tv's Tim Cavanaugh at Libertopia 2010 in Hollywood to discuss why self-help gurus aren't the key to happiness, what the New Atheist movement hopes to accomplish, why liberals accept evolution but not free markets, and why he switched from global warming skepticism to acceptance.

Approximately 9 minutes. Camera by Adam Hawk Jensen and Zach Weissmueller. Edited by Weissmueller. Music by Bjorn Fogelberg (Magnatune Records).

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Michael Shermer
• Skeptic Magazine
• Skeptic Society
• New Atheism
• Nick Gillespie
• Reason Magazine
• Reasontv
• Tim Cavanaugh
• Global Warming

[Jayhawkblue]

I agree with Mike. We do need rules.  I like spiritual rules that Jesus talked about.

[TheOrderoftheOwl]

This guy the problem in the world...If it wasn't for people like him getting people stirred up then we would get the real answers. This guy is a shill for the NWO. I'm sure he gets regular checks from the government and a pat on the back...Keep spreading misinformation Mike.

[BoyKissBoy]

Hmm... didn't know Shermer called himself a libertarian. I wonder what he means by that. He says that the market has to have some rules to play by. How will those rules be established? By the government? If so, is that really libertarianism? And who will police those rules?

I believe in a "free" market, but only when at least the most basic rules are set and policed by representatives of the people. I believe in one head - one vote, not one dollar - one vote.

[callegal2010]

..and the chemtrails aren't real either, you just look up in the sky and make believe they are not there...i get it ? skeptiZZism ?

[yourtreat2]

@1PheaMike "Some would have you believe atheism is just another religion"

This actually is based on a Supreme Court decision to protect Atheism under the freedom of religion Constitutional Amendment clause

As an Atheist, I dislike being "told" I am religious by Christians, Christian Evangelists, and other religious people on the Supreme Court

I am NOT part of ANY Atheist organization and to even claim that an organization constitutes a religion simply is stupid. We are not religious. I agree

[lordabacu]

@TheSelfishAltruist So government officials who are running for election every few years are thinking long-term? Nixon raising soc. security benefits during a re-election campaign: you view this as long-term thinking? This is just one of the many fallacies you have going here.

[yrusodumbwhy]

I'm skeptical that he's intelligent...

[koochkooch]

I love how pragmatic he is

[1PheaMike]

Some would have you believe atheism is just another religion.  I believe Bill Moyer said:

"If atheism is a religion, abstinence is a sex position."

[KittenKoder]

Depression's best cure: Coffee ... you can't sit around doing nothing hopped up on coffee ... source: myself. :p

Also, the statistic for making more money with a college education does not count the fact that you are in debt for most of your life, so it balances out to you making less, oddly.

@TheSelfishAltruist .... not entirely accurate. The actual cost, not what it paid at the POS, but the actual cost of medical coverage versus quality in such places is worse.