Summary: In this episode I talk about the relevance of cognitive biases for understanding how science works. I argue that, once we understand how cognitive biases lead us into error, and how scientific methods are designed precisely to neutralize these errors, then we have a compelling argument for accepting the authority of science (especially on matters where there’s a consensus among the relevant experts in the scientific community). The discussion ranges widely, from seeing faces in tree trunks, to hearing hidden messages in Britney Spears songs, to the vaccine-autism debate!
