A Warning From Carl Sagan on Scientific Ignorance
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ClimateCrocks.com:Â Just before his death, Carl Sagan warned us about the perils of a technological society where fewer and fewer people know, or care, what science says.
Here’s my home boy.
Absolutely!
There seems to be a renewed war on science from many fronts.
Politicians don’t want people to develop a good skeptical BS detector..
Carl Sagan, my hero! =)
His last interview. Sage advice as true now as then
Carl Sagan inspired a generation of scientists with his work in and out of
the classroom. But he didn’t always present science with cheer. In this
clip, he passionately defends science with a grave warning. It’s something
we all need to hear.
From:
http://www.upworthy.com/a-science-icon-died-17-years-ago-in-his-last-interview-he-made-a-warning-that-gives-me-goosebumps-5?c=reccon1
And right there is the strongest argument for good education that there is.
Without education, the government runs us.
Carl Sagan and Government_ Charlie Rose.wmv
A Science Icon Died 17 Years Ago. In His Last Interview, He Made A Warning
That Gives Me Goosebumps. Carl Sagan and Government_ Charlie Rose.wmv
well…. I guess we’re fucked now
Carl Sagan isn’t as bright of a person as his desire for fame implies.
What he is using is what we in philosophy call part of the “end of history”
fallacy. His idea is that we live in an age of the most modern technology,
implying that we live in it in a way we did not before. This debate of
religion versus science and technology has been going on for 200 years.
There is nothing special about the modern day.
He points to the fact that congressmen don’t have a background in science,
and there is a good reason for this. Scientists collect and analyze data.
Scientists do not apply their knowledge, they just try to stream the
knowledge to those who can apply it. Policymaking and science are
different disciplines and should be separated. The scientists are welcome
to present their arguments, and should be given a more intent ear than most
people, but there are very good reasons for scientists not getting involved
in decision making because there is a lot of non-science that has to be
taken into consideration.
Scientists are specialists. A biologist will never be prepared to comment
on sociology, etc… Policymakers need to listen to and make sense of
arguments where they may not necessarily have all the information, but
where they can get just enough to know the correct course of action.
It’s not a perfect system, but…
Keep in mind that the USSR had one of the world’s most extensive scientific
programs. They spent far more on R&D than any other country on the planet,
far more than the United States during the Cold War. The USSR is not with
us today because of their overreliance on science.
*Carl Sagan in 1996 said our society depends on science in every way, yet
very few of us understand it at all.*
Money in politics is one major issue, but it is not the only thing
destroying our society. Technology, and the fact that people who understand
technology are so few and so specialized, have guaranteed that only the
wealthy and powerful can take full advantage of it. A corrupt and powerful
government/corporate ruling class pays knowledgeable people very well to
harness the power of science, producing technology that is used to control
people of lower class.
In this interview, Sagan was more concerned about nuclear
proliferation — the a military class has the power to destroy the whole
planet elite, is ostensibly accountable to the people who know nearly
nothing about it.
But there is no shortage of examples in our generation. The recent *NSA
scandal* and the continued persecution of whistleblowers. Out-of-control *costs
of health care* is another issue resulting from science being controlled
only by the wealthy elite. *Global warming* is monster that is even more of
a problem because of socially engineered ignorance.
I believe even problems like unemployment somehow tie into the
disgraceful scientific ignorance of our society. The ruling class only
looks out for themselves, the only work available is the work that exists
to protect the interests ruling class. If you are not working to that end,
you will not find employment.
We may be able to solve the problem of money in politics, we may
even see a constitutional amendment. But that won’t solve the whole
problem. Scientific literacy needs to improve, worldwide, but especially in
the United States, or the problems we face now will persist for
generations, or destroy us entirely.
I’m glad I don’t live in a democracy. My government makes decisions based
upon merit and nobility; not majority rule. ^^;
We’ve arranged a society based on science & technology in which nobody
understands anything about science and technology. Power+Ignorance
Carl Sagan and Government_ Charlie Rose.wmv
I was never a fan of Carl Sagan but look at the crap that seeks too replace
him>>>>
the “Nasa End of Mankind”, Nibiru, Call From Another Galaxy, Ha!
Schools are a joke. I was told by a teacher that “Evolution is not
important” and we didn’t read the chapter. Then when I got to college. The
Biology professor said “Look, I know how your schools are around here.
Forget everything” It was a nice change.
Ayn Rand is exactly the kind of charlatan he was talking about.
Even she would have swallowed a bottle of speed if she had ever
seen the movies Atlas Shrugged 1 & 2 based on her book.
Objectivist & Libertarian porn. Sat through 20 minutes of 2.
Thank goshness I didn’t have to pay for it.
90% of the people who believe in the Bible have never read the Bible. Go
ahead and try to prove me wrong on that.
What would you tell your 14-year-old self?
My advice would be really -boring: keep on with science subjects, because
understanding of science will be so important in your future life. I’ve
held seminars in No. 10 about graphene and quantum theory, which I love
doing. But I have to read up a lot before I get started. So: a little more
on the physics and chemistry, please, David.
David Cameron ~ Prime Minister
So true. Remember to be skeptical!!!
The government does now run our lives.
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