Carl Sagan's The Demon-Haunted World as Social Commentary
Carl Sagan sums up his view of the basic flaw of man in one phrase: "history reveals that we humans have a sad tendency to make the same mistakes again and again" (Sagan 424). Humans today have an understanding of the world around them that is vastly superior to that of their ancestors. In spite of this, a growing number of people perpetually fail to scrutinize to the degree necessary for the evolution of the self. According to Sagan, failure to think scientifically seems to be the reason why most people get caught up in investing all their faith in as-yet-unproved phenomena such as UFOs and even religion. By investigating globally relevant topics like these, Sagan attempts to ward off the demons of ignorance (Nickell 110).
One of the strongest cases made by Sagan is the examination of professed UFO "abductees." According to the author, the biggest problem in cases of UFO abductions is the fact that proof is neither sought nor accepted by the subject. The faintest glimmer of the possibility of having been abducted almost always snowballs into the firmest belief that one indeed has been abducted. Even the strongest "evidence" often can be explained as something much more rational than it seems to the "abductee." For example, scarring attributed to alien experiments could quite possibly be due to any manner of unconscious self-mutilating acts. Sagan contends that even claims of seeing extraterrestrials can be attributed to the brain's possible retention, and subsequent projection, of dreams. People have occasionally recalled events of contact with alien life while under hypnosis. But Sagan contends that hypnosis is shoddy enough that it's recognized in courts...
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...nd the Sun and takes a year to do it (324). These facts aren't mentioned in the hopes of instigating despair concerning the apparent lack of fundamental knowledge across America. Rather, Sagan's purpose is to emphasize the need for a scientifically literate public (324).
In summary, Sagan relates that the mistake that man continuously makes is being led down stray courses. He believes that "[w]hat [many people] wish to be true, they believe is true" (325). A dangerous number of people fail to doubt and question both themselves and their surroundings. The acceptance of miscellaneous ideas without the demand of proof can only threaten to retard the progress of the human race.
Work Cited
Nickell, Joe. Looking for a Miracle. New York: Prometheus Books, 1998.
Sagan, Carl. The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark. New York: Random, 1996.
There are many different topics that are related to aliens. For example; crop circles, abductions, strange lights, mysterious marks on the body, and forced sexual experiments are all attributed to aliens. Sagan spends the next half of the book explaining how these claims are irrational and giving are more logical reasoning other than aliens. Crop circles are just teens playing a prank on farmers. Abductions are mass hallucinations that are implanted in people's heads by social media. Strange lights are planes or natural astronomical events.Mysterious marks are people who unknowingly mutilate themselves. The forced sexual experiments are stories made up by rape victims who are in denial. After Sagan had fully disproved every potential alien theory, he went on to talk about a very old type of pseudoscience, witchcraft. Witchcraft is a classic example of a small group of people taking advantage of the easily moldable minds of the a group of people. The punishment for being a witch was being executed. So, if someone didn’t like someone or wanted them dead they would just say they were a witch. There was no
Cooper, Lawrence, Cary Murphy. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Chicago: Taylor & Francis, 1996
Conspiracy theories about alien abductions vary from the almost plausible-that the government allows aliens to research humankind in exchange for advanced technology, to the profoundly ridiculous-that Elvis was abducted by rock and roll loving aliens. UFO's and alien abduction are thoroughly imbedded in popular US culture that, as we shall see, they are really a part of how it developed and grew. By investigating the story narrative of alien abduction accounts we can trace their possible origins in ancient folklore and mythology, and recognise how they have influenced both conspiracy theorists and popular media to become one of the most familiar parts of conspiracy culture in America. Aliens and related conspiracy theories have a symbiotic relationship to American culture; the interest begins in natural human hopes and fears, which inspires a literature, which encourages alleged witnesses to validate the stories. Next there are calls for an explanation of these strange occurrences so conspiracy theorists drive the stories deeper into American culture, involving other aspects, such as major religi...
Following what one knows is right can sometimes come at a great price, often going against what has always been known. This can be difficult, and people do not have the drive to find their own happiness most of the time. The secrets of the earth are not for all men to see because discovering new things requires freedom to have a voice of your own and the will to search.
Cohen, Daniel. The Encyclopedia of the Strange. New York: Dodd, Meod & Company, Inc., 1985.
Rotting vegetation and erupting volcanoes release some chemicals that can cause acid rain, but most acid rain falls because of human activities. When humans burn fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are released into the atmosphere. If large amounts of NO2 and SO2 are present in the atmosphere than the pH of rainwater will be significantly lowered. Nitric acid (HN03) can be linked to around 1/4 of the acid rain in the environment. Large amounts of NO gas is produced by high-temperature air combustion that takes place in car engines and power plants....
Paranormal Activity is similar to pseudoscience and involves experiences outside of science (Hines, 2003). However, there is another side to these strange occurrences which includes UFOs, alien contact, and the appearance of unusual creatures. According to Imbrogno (2008) “No matter how skeptical you are, there are three things that cannot be denied: that reports of paranormal experiences exist, that they persist, and they are increasingly occurring on a global scale” (pg.16). According to Hines (2003) “Paranormal phenomena includes extrasensory perception (ESP), telekinesis, ghosts, poltergeists, life after death, reincarnation, faith healing, human auras, and so forth” (pg.20). The term UFOs, unidentified flying objects, is the reported sighting of any object or arrangement of lights that do not have a logical or natural explanation. The first reported incident in America occurred in 1947, when an amateur pilot, Kenneth Arnold, made claims of a sighting while flying his small plane near Mount Rainier in Washington which caused the U.S. government to begin searching for extraterrestrials (Stephey, 2009). Moreover, Chinese texts from the 4th century make claims of a “moon boat” that visited once every 12 years hovering above the country to become the earliest sighting in recorded history (Stephey, 2009). Although issues such as speed, shape, and size continues to differs, the U.S. Air Force commissioned Project Blue Book, an official record of sights that occurred in the U.S. from 1952 to 1969 logging over 12,000 sightings or events involving UFOs.
Researchers have found a few different theories that can explain some aspects of people claiming to experience alien abductions, but they have not been able to account for every abduction case (Pelletier and Patry). So far, there has not been a theory that was able to perfectly decode the mystery of alien abductions (Pelletier and Patry). All of the theories of why “abductees” claim to be abducted by aliens are possible, however, they require further research and examination. The concept of extraterrestrials has affected many aspects of society. Relying on just what the “abductees” say as true evidence is an important decision that can change the universe as we know it.
Acid gases are produced when fossil fuels like coal and oil are burned in power stations, factories and in our own homes. Acid rain is rain that has been made acidic by certain pollutants in the air. Most of these acid gases are blown into the sky, and when they mix with the clouds it can cause rain - or snow, sleet, fog, mist or hail - to become more acidic. Acid rain is rain that has been made acidic by certain pollutants in the air. Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from power plants and other sources, prevailing winds blow these
Evolutionists – as well as atheists – state that despite the enormous scientific and technological progress, despite all ultra-sensitive observation systems, such as orbital telescopes, there are sti...
One of the biggest environmental problems that needs dealing with in society today is acid deposition. It is largely caused by humans, and causes much pollution to the environment and harms people and buildings as well. Although there are minimal positive sides to this issue, the negatives far outweigh it and call people around the world to take action to reduce and even solve this problem. Coming in both wet and dry forms, acid deposition consists of acidic pollutants including nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides that have been deposited from the atmosphere to the surface of the earth. There are both wet and dry forms of acid deposition, wet forms being referred to as acid precipitation. Acid precipitation is the result of sulfur and nitrogen oxides reacting in the atmosphere with water vapor. This returns to the earth as acid rain or snow. Dry deposition occurs when these oxides react without water and they settle out of the atmosphere onto the earth. Acid deposition can come from a number of different sources such as smokestacks, trucks and cars. More than 90% of the sulfur in the atmosphere comes from humans. Coal burning, the smelting of metal sulfide ores, and automobile exhaust are major human contributions to sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere. Similarly, 95% of the increased nitrogen oxide levels in the atmosphere are a result of the activities of humans. The activity that contributes the most to these elevated levels is the combustion of oil, coal, and gas. Attention was first drawn to acid deposition in the 17th century when the bad effects of industry and acidic pollution on both vegetation and people were noticed. In the 1960s, it became an international problem when fishermen noticed declines in fish numbers and diversity in lakes across North America and Europe. Acid deposition causes many problems such as these worldwide, and is clearly a problem that needs to be properly dealt with.
In some countries acid rain is a big deal. It can harm humans, wildlife, and our natural resources. Most people wont even know when acid rain occurs, it looks feels, and tastes like regular rain. Walking and swimming in acid rain is no more harmful than walking or swimming in clean water. The thing that is harmful about acid rain is the chemicals it produces. Acid rain does sound like something you would hear of in a movie, but, no it is not pure acid, it is just regular rain that has a few chemicals in it. The big concern that scientist and people have about acid rain are, what causes it and how harmful is it?
Acid rain affects many things in our world greatly. Acid rain is precipitation that has been released into the atmosphere and is very harmful and can do lots of damage.
There are numerous of different movies, books, and TV shows on how humans think aliens interact, look similar to, and what the media portrays aliens to be like. Occasionally, most will stumble across news articles with a variety of related headings about aliens, UFO’s, or recent known abduction stories. Every person has their own theories and or thoughts on these basic questions: do aliens exist? Could the government be covering up real life “space ships” or encounters? Countless folks have claimed to witness or have fanciful stories that have fascinated countless while several others are turned away. There are Videos, pictures and pieces of physical evidence to support nearly all of these stories. Even more alarming,
Six hundred years ago western culture adopted the general scientific model as an unproven assumed perspective. The general scientific model developed as a phenomenon of knowledge that could be tested and replicated by all. The general scientific model presents a foundation of perception upon which theories, assumptions, and most beliefs are based off. Only confined by human limitations, the general scientific model is perceived to have endless possibilities of achievable knowledge. According to the general scientific model there are simply four basic assumptions that base the key to all knowledge: every event has a cause, causes can be known, humans can discover the causes of events, and ignorance of causes is due to improper tools (Portko,