#40: Partial Truths

Thinking Critically

In this episode, Jonathan is speaking with James Zimring about partial truths and how fractions can distort our thinking. They discuss: •Origins of his interest in science, why he chose medicine, and his current research interests. •How he first became interested in philosophy of science and how this eventually lead to his book “What Science is and How it Really Works.” •His new book “Partial Truths: How Fractions Distort Our Thinking.” •Why we tend to gravitate towards using anecdotes as evidence. •How scientific descriptions have been wrong in the past, but observed phenomena are rarely wrong. •How confirmation bias isn't necessarily bad, but requires a system in place to keep it honest. •How dialogue outside of scientific circles is often about one side winning and the other side losing when in science, winning is getting to a correct answer. •How science gets it wrong. •And other topics. Dr. James Zimring is a Professor of Pathology at the University of Virginia where he pursues basic and translational research in the field of transfusion medicine and blood biology. He has an M.D. and also a Ph.D. in Immunology, both awarded from Emory University, and has published over 160 research articles in his field of study. Professor Zimring is the recipient of multiple awards for his research and teaching and an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI). He is also the author of the book “What Science Is and How It Really Works” and, more recently, “Partial Truths: How Fractions Distort Our Thinking,” which discusses how fractions lead us astray. You can find James's website here: https://jameszimring.com/ You can find this episode on YouTube here: https://bit.ly/3QLtPTC Also, don't forget about our book “Thinking Critically. From Fake News to Conspiracy Theories. Using Logic to Safely Navigate the Information Landscape” if you're interested in exploring how logic can be used to better help you to discern fact from fiction. The information landscape is perilous, but with the help of this book as your guide, you will always be able to find your way towards truth. It's available on Amazon today! Book: https://amzn.to/3nWdawV This show is supported and produced by Final Stretch Media. Final Stretch believes in creating something that disrupts attention spans and challenges the marketing status quo. They do this by creating high quality visual content that captivates your audience. Website: https://bit.ly/3AsP3wZ This show is also supported by QuikLee; the creators of Brain Racers. The world's first ever live racing competition for the brain. Download their app and play live on the weekends on an iOS device against the world. We have raced and it's a blast! App Download: https://apple.co/33n8aJs