In this episode of Nature, Naskar & Neurons, Abhijit Naskar illuminates human stupidity with four examples.

Further Reading: https://www.amazon.com/Neurosutra-Abhijit-Naskar-Collection/dp/1516804538/



Transcript:

Knowledge is something that can be backed up with reasoning. If an argument cannot be reasoned with then that argument has nothing to do with knowledge, rather it has to do with ignorance and bigotry. I am Abhijit Naskar and welcome to Nature, Naskar & Neurons. Today's episode is a little different than the ones you have enjoyed so far on this show. Today I'll address the Illusion of Knowledge. I'll mention a few examples of the fake glory of human stupidity.



Number 1

The earth is not flat. You'd be surprised to know that even in this age of satellites and space probes there are some people who genuinely believe that the earth is flat, not an oblate spheroid. Such belief is mostly motivated by pseudoscience and literal interpretation of scriptures. In 1881, English writer Samuel Rowbotham published Zetetic Astronomy: Earth Not a Globe, a 430-page book in which he affirmed that Earth is flat. After he passed away in 1884, Lady Elizabeth Blount, who admired his work, established a Universal Zetetic Society whose objective was "to carry on the work of the master." So yes, they still do carry on the work with their argument being, I quote "sensory observation prevail over scientific theory."



Number 2

Vaccines do not cause Autism. A vaccine introduces a diminished form of a pathogen into the body in order to stimulate the immune system to develop adaptive immunity to that pathogen. The idea that vaccination causes autism was attractive to some people who wanted to find a clear cause for Autism, and unfortunately the idea still prevails in some people. However, this idea arose from a few studies that were badly conducted and have since been proven wrong. Many high quality studies have compared the health of large numbers of vaccinated and unvaccinated children over many years. The largest study included 537,303 children born in Denmark and found that unvaccinated children were just as likely to develop autism as vaccinated children. So rest assured, there is no correlation between vaccination and autism.



Number 3

Global warming is real. It is as real as the sun being hot or poo being disgusting. Anyone who does not know this yet, well, we'll all drown anyways, so who cares? The bottom-line is, take action to cool your planet or the planet will take action and cool your life - forever. Here are a few actions that you can take right away in order to make a significant impact, or don't and let your grandchildren suffer for your mistakes. Driving is one of the biggest ways people contribute to global warming, so minimize driving in any manner you can, by car pooling to work, riding a bike or using public transportation, or any other way. And also consume as less energy as you can.



Number 4

Scriptures are not books consisting factual truth. The only way that we humans can accept scriptures as part of modern human life, is to accept them as metaphorical. The best thing that you can do however, as a rational human being with a brain, is to read all the scriptures and then accept all the good parts and reject the rest. Remember, humanism first, then books, regardless of whether those books have great value in your culture.



I am Abhijit Naskar, wishing you a planet of less illusions. And just for the record, me wishing you, won't change anything, unless you take action. So take action and bring the change you wish to see in your planet.



References:

https://www.amazon.com/Neurosutra-Abhijit-Naskar-Collection/dp/1516804538/

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/7b77ng/flat-earth-society-interview-876

Madsen, KM. et al. A population-based study of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination and autism. New England Journal of Medicine 2002;347:1477-1482



Follow Nature Naskar Neurons here:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/naskarism

Wordpress: http://www.naskarism.wordpress.com

Youtube: http://youtube.com/channel/UCgWljSCanyPv56GlEY6thgg



You can support Nature Naskar Neurons here: http://www.patreon.com/naskarism