Dr. Michael Shermer takes viewers to the Galápagos Islands to retrace Darwin’s footsteps (literally - in 2006 Shermer and historian of science Frank Sulloway hiked and camped all over the first island Darwin visited) and show that, in fact, Darwin did not discover natural selection when he was there in September of 1835. He worked out his theory when he returned home, and Shermer shows exactly how Darwin did that, along with the story of the theory's co-discoverer, Alfred Russel Wallace. Then Shermer outlines what, exactly, the theory of evolution explains, how it displaced the creationist model as the explanation for design in nature (wings, eyes, etc. as functional adaptations), and why so many people today still misunderstand the theory and how that sustained the creationist model.
This lecture is part of a course that Dr. Shermer teaches at Chapman University called Skepticism 101: How to Think Like a Scientist which covers a wide range of topics, from critical thinking, reasoning, rationality, cognitive biases and how thinking goes wrong, and the scientific methods, to actual claims and whether or not there is any truth to them, e.g., ESP, ETIs, UFOs, astrology, channelling, psychics, creationism, Holocaust denial, and especially conspiracy theories and how to think about them.
ORDER IN DARWIN'S SHADOW
shop.skeptic.com/in-darwins-s...
ORDER WHY DARWIN MATTERS
shop.skeptic.com/why-darwin-m...
SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE SKEPTICS SOCIETY
You play a vital part in our commitment to promote science and reason. If you enjoyed this lecture, please show your support by making a donation to the Skeptics Society. Your generous support will help ensure that we can continue sharing sound scientific viewpoints worldwide.
www.skeptic.com/donate/
Learn more about Skeptic Magazine & the work of the Skeptics Society
www.skeptic.com/
1 июн 2020