The believing brain
Subtitle: from ghosts, gods, and aliens to conspiracies, economics, & politics : how the brain constructs beliefs & reinforces them as truths
By: by Michael Shermer
Publisher: Times Books
Published: 2011
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 385
ISBN-13: 9780805091250
Description: 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.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Mr. D'Arpino's dilemma; title: Dr. Collins's conversion; title: A skeptic's journey; title: Patternicity; title: Agenticity; title: The believing neuron; title: Belief in the afterlife; title: Belief in god; title: Belief in aliens; title: Belief in conspiracies; title: Politics of belief; title: Confirmations of belief; title: Geographies of belief; title: Cosmologies of belief; title: Epilogue: the truth is out there.