The Believing Brain
From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies--how We Construct Beliefs and Reinforce Them As Truths
New York : Times Books, 2011.
Format: Book
Edition: First edition.
Description: xii, 385 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Shermer demonstrates how our brains selectively assess data in an attempt to confirm the conclusions (beliefs) we've already reached. Drawing on evolution, cognitive science, and neuroscience, he considers not only supernatural beliefs but political and economic ones as well.
Contents:
Mr. D'Arpino's dilemma -- Dr. Collins's conversion -- A skeptic's journey -- Patternicity -- Agenticity -- The believing neuron -- Belief in the afterlife -- Belief in god -- Belief in aliens -- Belief in conspiracies -- Politics of belief -- Confirmations of belief -- Geographies of belief -- Cosmologies of belief -- Epilogue: the truth is out there.
ISBN:
9780805091250
Availability | |||
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Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
PSYCHOLOGY Applied She | Main (Downtown) | Third Level, Nonfiction | In |
Includes bibliographical references and index.