Michael Shermer: How Scientific American Got Woke

TL;DR

Michael Shermer discusses the dangers of wokeness and identity politics infiltrating scientific inquiry and the cultural shift at Scientific American.

Transcript

Second wave feminists I've talked to, they're very worried about the woke gender identity movement because it's reducing women to just body parts. Like a guy can say, Well, if I just get breast implants and I can have a vaginal plastic made out of a piece of my skin, then I'm in. I'm the woman, right? It's like, well, no, because women are not just... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Wokeness and identity politics can undermine scientific inquiry by reducing complex issues to simplistic narratives.
• 🔰 The influence of woke ideology is pervasive in academic circles and is now beginning to dominate mainstream culture.
• 🔉 The termination of Shermer's column reflects a broader trend in media and academia towards prioritizing identity politics over scientific objectivity.
• 🔬 Shermer's Substack provides a platform for him to continue his science communication and critique of woke culture.
• 😀 The controversy surrounding E.O. Wilson highlights the challenges faced by scientists who attempt to apply evolutionary theory to human behavior and society.
• 🤨 The clash between wokeness and scientific inquiry raises questions about the limits of free expression and the role of ideology in shaping knowledge and understanding.
• 🏛️ Shermer's identification as a classical liberal rather than a libertarian reflects his evolving political beliefs in response to contemporary social and cultural issues.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the woke gender identity movement, and why do second wave feminists worry about it?

The woke gender identity movement reduces women to body parts and allows individuals to claim womanhood based solely on physical changes, disregarding the complexity of being a woman.

Q: Why did Scientific American terminate Michael Shermer's column?

While no specific reason was given, Shermer believes it was due to the growing influence of woke ideology and a discomfort with his columns on race, sex, and gender issues.

Q: What is the purpose of Shermer's Substack publication?

Shermer started the Substack to continue his science writing, allowing him more flexibility and the ability to explore topics beyond the 700-word limit imposed by his former column.

Q: What controversial topic does Shermer discuss in his article about Scientific American going woke?

Shermer examines an article in Scientific American that labeled E.O. Wilson, a renowned scientist, as a racist due to his book "Sociobiology" and his attempts to apply evolutionary theory to human society.

Key Insights:

• Wokeness and identity politics can undermine scientific inquiry by reducing complex issues to simplistic narratives.
• The influence of woke ideology is pervasive in academic circles and is now beginning to dominate mainstream culture.
• The termination of Shermer's column reflects a broader trend in media and academia towards prioritizing identity politics over scientific objectivity.
• Shermer's Substack provides a platform for him to continue his science communication and critique of woke culture.
• The controversy surrounding E.O. Wilson highlights the challenges faced by scientists who attempt to apply evolutionary theory to human behavior and society.
• The clash between wokeness and scientific inquiry raises questions about the limits of free expression and the role of ideology in shaping knowledge and understanding.
• Shermer's identification as a classical liberal rather than a libertarian reflects his evolving political beliefs in response to contemporary social and cultural issues.
• Overcoming cognitive biases is difficult for all individuals, and acknowledging moral and technological progress can be challenging due to inherent biases and resistance to change.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Michael Shermer expresses concern about the woke gender identity movement reducing women to mere body parts.

• Scientific American terminated Shermer's column due to a shift towards identity politics and wokeness.

• Shermer started a Substack publication to continue his science communication and critique of woke culture.