This Epstein Conspiracy Shocked Me: Michael Shermer
World's Most Famous Skeptic Admits Conspiracy
This brand new episode is out now for you guys on Spotify. We didn’t have questions for a bonus segment, but I hope you’ll find this as fascinating as I did. Ultimately, we’re in unprecedented times with regards to conspiracies - such as an island of elite pedos - turning out to be true.
So how does a sceptic like Michael Shermer deal with that?
WATCH IT HERE
3 Things I Learned
Shermer’s rule: conspiracies exist
He doesn’t dismiss “conspiracy” as a vibe. He says: check evidence, look for a paper trail, don’t make it your identity, and update when new info appears.
Epstein: the “real” conspiracy might be money + leverage
He floats the idea that the sex/underage stuff may have been secondary to the bigger play: cameras + kompromat to pressure rich guys into investments. Not “proven”, but a plausible mechanism.
Incompetence beats evil genius
Even with Epstein, he keeps returning to “most people aren’t competent enough to run Dr Evil.” He wants specific proof before jumping to Mossad/KGB/JFK-tier conclusions.
Good discussion but I thought two great minds would be able to understand Jordan Peterson’s ideology. Especially as fellow unbelievers. The golden nugget or whatever it is we seek is not that obvious to find and we can argue for ever whether religion precedes it or flows from it. Either way, they define one another and can one survive without the other? Ask Andrew or Jeffrey or Peter. As for conspiracies, and scoring their likelihood of being true, what do you now give for the existence of God? More than 1%?
I really enjoyed it. I answered the moon one on Spotify. I think given how many times we have been lied to or gaslit by people in authority, it's quite understandable we see conspiracies everywhere. While a number of them have been proven to be true over the years I'm inclined to agree with Michael that it's more that these people are utterly incompetent and dishonest so they cover up their misdeeds rather than be honest. People in power don't want to lose that power so will lie to protect themselves and to hell with th rest of us.
That said I do think there are people with enormous power who will try and manipulate and engineer situations for the same reasons.
I know you're an atheist Andrew but I'm not so I know these people will face judgment eventually.....😇