The Psychology of Conspiracy Theories with Michael Shermer

As the founder of Skeptic magazine, Michael Shermer has long been defending reason against pseudoscience, investigating claims about life after death, paranormal phenomena, and even the mysteries of firewalking. In the early 2000s, he became widely known for his critiques of religion alongside other major figures in the New Atheism movement. In his new book, Truth: What It Is, How to Find It & Why It Still Matters, Shermer distills the central question of his career. At a time when conspiracy theories have gone mainstream and trust in institutions has plummeted, how do we determine what’s actually true?

I sat down with Michael live at the Comedy Cellar in New York to speak about this question. We discussed his personal journey from evangelical Christian convert to prominent atheist, and whether religion’s measurable social benefits complicate his case against belief. We talked about conspiracy theories, the psychology behind them, and how to differentiate subjective “personal truths” from objective, empirical ones.

Against the backdrop of the replication crisis in science and the collapse of institutions, Shermer defends skepticism as a necessary discipline we cannot afford to lose. Science is imperfect, and sometimes embarrassingly so, but it remains our best method for correcting errors over time. In a culture that increasingly rewards certainty and outrage, he argues that caring about what is actually true still matters.

If you missed me at this live event, be sure to check out my upcoming live event. I’ll be in Atlanta on March 9, for a special America at 250 event at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church—the church led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—for a conversation on the legacy and future of nonviolence. I’ll be joined by Andrew Young, a civil rights pioneer and former United Nations ambassador who marched alongside Martin Luther King, as well as Jonathan Eig, whose best-selling book, King: A Life won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize.

Get your tickets here