Giving the Devil His Due: Reflections of a Scientific Humanist

Michael Shermer's Giving the Devil His Due: Reflections of a Scientific Humanist presents a vigorous defense of scientific rationalism and free inquiry as essential tools for addressing fundamental questions about existence, morality, and human meaning. Writing from his position as a prominent skeptic and founder of Skeptic magazine, Shermer constructs an argument that scientific humanism provides a more reliable foundation for understanding reality and constructing ethical systems than traditional religious frameworks.

The work engages directly with contemporary debates about the role of reason versus faith in public discourse. Shermer argues that giving "the devil his due" means extending intellectual charity even to ideas one finds objectionable, while maintaining rigorous standards of evidence and logical consistency. This methodological commitment shapes his approach to the God question, where he contends that supernatural explanations consistently fail when subjected to scientific scrutiny. He examines specific religious claims through the lens of evolutionary psychology, neuroscience, and historical analysis, arguing that naturalistic explanations better account for religious belief and experience than theistic ones.

Shermer positions his scientific humanism against both religious fundamentalism and what he perceives as excessive relativism in secular academic circles. He critiques religious epistemology for its reliance on faith and revelation rather than empirical evidence, while also challenging postmodern skepticism about objective truth. His argument draws heavily on Enlightenment traditions, particularly the works of Hume and modern advocates like Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, though he distances himself from what he considers the latter's occasionally inflammatory rhetoric.

The book's significance lies in its attempt to articulate a positive vision of secular humanism that goes beyond mere critique of religion. Shermer argues that science and reason can provide not only explanations of natural phenomena but also foundations for meaning, purpose, and moral values. He addresses common objections that atheism leads to nihilism or moral relativism by proposing that evolutionary biology and social psychology reveal universal human values that can ground ethical systems without divine command.

His contribution to the God debate centers on demonstrating how scientific skepticism functions as a comprehensive worldview rather than merely a negative stance. Through examination of specific cases ranging from creationism to mystical experiences, Shermer builds a cumulative case that naturalistic explanations consistently outperform supernatural ones, making belief in God unnecessary and unjustified according to scientific standards of evidence.