Guy P. Harrison is an acclaimed author of nine thought-provoking books that encourage curiosity and critical thinking. In this engaging episode, he and Michael Shermer discuss how science fiction inspires us to think beyond the ordinary and explore the vast possibilities of human progress. From his latest work to his passion for rational dialogue, Harrison’s insights are both inspiring and accessible.
Shermer and Harrison discuss:
- How Damn You, Entropy! came to be
- Why science fiction matters and why it is something more than mere entertainment
- How being a lifelong student of science and history enhances life
- How general science knowledge turned the two times I almost died into positive experiences
- Why Harrison doesn’t argue and the reasons he prefers friendly talks, offering facts, and positive teaching to promote critical thinking and a rational worldview
- UFOs, UAPs, Oumuamua, TicTac, Go-Fast, Green Triangle, Gimbal, Omaha Sphere (submersible), “defying physics,” etc.
- Fermi Paradox
- Why 99.9 percent of discussions and debates about God are fundamentally flawed
- Why 99.9 percent of creationism vs. evolution discussions and debates are fundamentally flawed.
- 50th anniversary of Lucy and the “Ape to Angel” myth of progressive evolution
- How to untangle the definitions of atheist and agnostic so that everyone can communicate better
- Did we evolve to be rational?
- AI and AGI as an existential threat
- Why Harrison is optimistic about the future of humanity (long term, that is)
Guy Harrison is an award-winning writer and author of nine books, including Think: Why You Should Question Everything, At Least Know This, 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God, and Good Thinking. His work has been featured in Skeptic, Reader’s Digest, The Institute of Arts and Ideas, Skeptical Inquirer, Free Inquiry, Big Think, and many other publications. Guy is a longtime essayist for Psychology Today and contributed a chapter about race and racism to The Cognitive Science of Belief published by Cambridge University Press. Random House featured his book Think: Why You Should Question Everything as recommended reading for all first-year university students, and the San Diego Union-Tribune named At Least Know This a top-five summer read. His new book, Damn You, Entropy! 1,001 of the Greatest Science Fiction Quotes was a New Scientist magazine “Best Science Fiction Books of the Month” selection.
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This episode was released on December 10, 2024.
