David Eagleman on Uncertainty

2010

David Eagleman begins this talk on uncertainty by demonstrating ‘the vastness of our ignorance’ before explaining how science is the most successful approach to counter this. Science, ,however has only touched upon the uncharted waters of ignorance. Eagleman worries that ‘neo-atheists’ give the impression that they are all knowing, giving their followers a false sense of certainty. Science is not ‘all figured out’ and books can contend to this, as Eagleman does. He does not know enough to commit to atheism and he knows too much to commit to religious theories. Rather than spending his energy debating 'God vs. no God' Eagleman explains that the possibilities beyond this dichotomy are extremely diverse and that this dichotomy is unhelpful. This belief makes Eagleman a Possibilian (not an agnostic).

Possibilianism, essentially is a movement Eagleman predicated in 2009, one that has rapidly spread and gained momentum. This movement rejects the simplistic atheist/faithful dichotomy and attempts to pick up where science leaves off. By being tolerant of multiple possibilities and ideas while admitting that nothing is true, Possibilianism takes science and religion beyond their current boundaries.