A general problem with much of Western theology… is that the God portrayed is too small. It is a god of a tiny world and not a god of a galaxy, much less a universe. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | But Don’t Forget It Either |
2021 | Appreciating Intricacy |
I Read It In A Fairy Tale | |
2020 | Insensitive To Silence |
Weaker, Sicker And Poorer | |
2019 | Don’t Be Small |
2018 | Persistence |
2017 | Are You A Loser? |
2016 | Constitution And Conscience |
2015 | Separate, Fearful And Imprisoned |
2014 | Something Worth Making |
2013 | Absolutely |
2012 | Can Do |
2011 | Wise Criticism |
Posts Tagged ‘Carl Sagan’
Too Small
Posted in Faith, Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Carl Sagan, Galaxy, God, Philosophy, Problems, Quotes, Universe, Western Theology on May 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Between Us And Darkness
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Proverbs, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Bill of Rights, Carl Sagan, Civilization, Darkness, Dirty Feet, Education, Hatred, Integrity, Mahatma Gandhi, Minds, Philosophy, Proverbs, Quotes on April 14, 2023| 2 Comments »
Hatred corrodes the container it’s contained in. | |
— Proverb | |
I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet. | |
— Mahatma Gandhi | |
Education on the value of free speech and the other freedoms reserved by the Bill of Rights, about what happens when you don’t have them, and about how to exercise and protect them, should be an essential prerequisite for being an American citizen — or indeed a citizen of any nation, the more so to the degree that such rights remain unprotected. If we can’t think for ourselves, if we’re unwilling to question authority, then we’re just putty in the hands of those in power. But if the citizens are educated and form their own opinions, then those in power work for us. In every country, we should be teaching our children the scientific method and the reasons for a Bill of Rights. With it comes a certain decency, humility and community spirit. In the demon-haunted world that we inhabit by virtue of being human, this may be all that stands between us and the enveloping darkness. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. | |
— Ralph Waldo Emerson | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | Or Simple Truths You Don’t Want To Believe |
2021 | I Never Could Keep A Secret |
A Half A Mile Or So | |
2020 | Facing The Truth |
2019 | How Much Is Your Education Worth? |
Is America Ready: Mayor Pete – 2020!! | |
2018 | Disruptive Definition |
2017 | A History Of Small Insights |
2016 | Be Uncommon |
2015 | Ooops! |
2014 | What Price Freedom? |
2013 | Remembering Val |
2012 | Good-bye, Val |
Survival Value | |
2011 | Traitors In Our Midst |
Life Ain’t Easy | |
Support Health And Depth
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Books, Carl Sagan, Civilization, History, Libraries, Nature, Philosophy, Quotes, Science on March 17, 2023| 2 Comments »
Books permit us to voyage through time, to tap the wisdom of our ancestors. The library connects us with the insights and knowledge, painfully extracted from Nature, of the greatest minds that ever were, with the best teachers, drawn from the entire planet and from all of our history, to instruct us without tiring, and to inspire us to make our own contribution to the collective knowledge of the human species. Public libraries depend on voluntary contributions. I think the health of our civilization, the depth of our awareness about the underpinnings of our culture and our concern for the future can all be tested by how well we support our libraries. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | 42 |
2021 | Blessings Larger Than Life |
Tomorrow She Sails | |
2020 | The Sun Came Out |
Not A Wink On Guard | |
2019 | The Importance Of A Deadline |
Chaos Is Not Really A New Remedy | |
2018 | History Will Judge Harshly |
Father Time, Perhaps? | |
2017 | Odds Are |
2016 | Prayer, Too |
2015 | History, n. |
2014 | See It Sometime |
2013 | Precious Friend |
2012 | It Couldn’t Be Done |
Feeling Surrounded? | |
2011 | Surprise! |
Once Upon A Time There Was Air You Couldn’t See…
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Air Pollution, Atmosphere, Carl Sagan, Earth, Environment, Global Warming, Greenhouse Effect, Philosophy, Quotes, Room 222, Science on March 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »
In fact, the thickness of the Earth’s atmosphere, compared with the size of the Earth, is in about the same ratio as the thickness of a coat of shellac on a schoolroom globe is to the diameter of the globe. That’s the air that nurtures us and almost all other life on Earth, that protects us from deadly ultraviolet light from the sun, that through the greenhouse effect brings the surface temperature above the freezing point. (Without the greenhouse effect, the entire Earth would plunge below the freezing point of water and we’d all be dead.) Now that atmosphere, so thin and fragile, is under assault by our technology. We are pumping all kinds of stuff into it. You know about the concern that chlorofluorocarbons are depleting the ozone layer; and that carbon dioxide and methane and other greenhouse gases are producing global warming, a steady trend amidst fluctuations produced by volcanic eruptions and other sources. Who knows what other challenges we are posing to this vulnerable layer of air that we haven’t been wise enough to foresee? | |
— Carl Sagan | |
[The title for this post is a line from a TV series (“Room 222“) which aired from the late 1960’s to mid-1970’s. One episode on the show dealt with air pollution in Southern California. The “message” was that if environmental damage “only” kills half the human population, the other half will be able to tell their children: “Once upon a time…” — kmab] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | A Wonderful Tension |
2021 | Little And Large Choices |
I Got Something To Say | |
Alternate Reality | |
2020 | When? |
2019 | Two Guides |
2018 | A Call For You |
2017 | Because I Read |
2016 | On What Matters… |
2015 | Social Security |
2014 | Bewitching |
2013 | Visiting Joy |
2012 | Dedication To Today |
2011 | Project Second Chance – Adult Literacy |
Turning Coal Into Diamonds | |
Wide And Yawning
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Carl Sagan, Darkness, Infinity, Light, Philosophy, Quotes on March 1, 2023| Leave a Comment »
There is a wide, yawning black infinity. In every direction, the extension is endless; the sensation of depth is overwhelming. And the darkness is immortal. Where light exists, it is pure, blazing, fierce; but light exists almost nowhere, and the blackness itself is also pure and blazing and fierce. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | Where One Goes |
2021 | A Direct Relationship |
Another Night Train South | |
2020 | One Person’s Roses… |
2019 | In The Long-Run |
2018 | #NeverAgain |
Doss II | |
Doesn’t / Does | |
2017 | Talent Hates To Move |
2016 | Looking To November |
2015 | It Isn’t The End |
Prospero’s Precepts | |
2014 | Friends |
2013 | Learning Bitter |
2012 | Remembrance, Minstrels & Going Off To War |
May I Have More Happiness, Please? | |
2011 | There Is No God, But God |
2010 | Another Running Book… |
An Exquisite Balance
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Balance, Carl Sagan, Gullible, Hypotheses, Ideas, Philosophy, Quotes, Skepticism on January 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »
It seems to me what is called for is an exquisite balance between two conflicting needs: the most skeptical scrutiny of all hypotheses that are served up to us and at the same time a great openness to new ideas … If you are only skeptical, then no new ideas make it through to you … On the other hand, if you are open to the point of gullibility and have not an ounce of skeptical sense in you, then you cannot distinguish the useful ideas from the worthless ones. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | You Ought To Be Having Fun |
2021 | Democrats Talking To Republicans |
Talkin’ To Myself And Feelin’ Old | |
2020 | You Are Not Late (Yet) |
2019 | Too Difficult To Try |
2018 | Hold Fast |
2017 | The Only Real Security |
2016 | Time Said |
2015 | If Only Common Sense Were More Common |
2014 | PTI |
2013 | What Now, Then? |
2012 | Big C, Little B |
Duty, Honor, Country | |
No Implication Of Reasonableness
Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged American Politics, Carl Sagan, Human Nature, Philosophy, Pseudo-Science, Quotes, Science and Learning, Scientists on December 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Very few scientists actually plunge into the murky waters of testing or challenging borderline or pseudo-scientific beliefs. The chance of finding out something really interesting — except about human nature — seems small, and the amount of time required seems large. I believe that scientists should spend more time in discussing these issues, but the fact that a given contention lacks vigorous scientific opposition in no way implies that scientists think it is reasonable. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Let Yourself Soar In 2022 |
Where You’re Concerned | |
2020 | The Most Dynamic Link |
Looking Forward To 2021 | |
2019 | A Proud Assertion |
2018 | Ask #45 About Anything |
2017 | Playing Makes Sense |
2016 | And Fathers, Sons |
2015 | My Suspect Confidence |
2014 | Disguised Blessings |
2013 | Be |
2012 | The Only Way to Win |
2011 | Honest Writing |
Only Through Love
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Carl Sagan, Love, Philosophy, Quotes, Small Creatures, Vastness on December 21, 2022| Leave a Comment »
For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Being Constantly Great |
Hopeful Realization | |
2020 | Sapping Joy |
Blew Out My Flip-Flop | |
Really Wheelie | |
2019 | Word Up |
2018 | But Much Is Worth Learning |
2017 | Mr. President, About Global Warming |
2016 | Starting To Stumble |
2015 | Begin Combat |
I Am A Runner | |
2014 | Just Dig ‘N It, Why? |
2013 | Additions |
The Object Of Instruction | |
2012 | Telling Her |
2011 | On Torture |
Closer And Closer Possibilities
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Experiments, Philosophy, Preferences, Quotes, Science, Truth on November 6, 2022| Leave a Comment »
The truth may be puzzling. It may take some work to grapple with. It may be counterintuitive. It may contradict deeply held prejudices. It may not be consonant with what we desperately want to be true. But our preferences do not determine what’s true. We have a method, and that method helps us to reach not absolute truth, only asymptotic approaches to the truth — never there, just closer and closer, always finding vast new oceans of undiscovered possibilities. Cleverly designed experiments are the key. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Fighting New Guitar Fever |
Bad Trades In The Tunnel | |
2020 | Give And Gain |
Can We Talk For A Second | |
Almost Ready To Take A Breath | |
2019 | Transfiguration |
2018 | 2018 Mid-Terms |
Praying For A Blue Tsunami Election | |
2017 | Islam Is Not The Enemy |
2016 | A Checkered Past, A Checkered Future |
2015 | Preferences |
2014 | Have You Taken The Pledge? |
2013 | Nurture Tolerance |
2012 | Election Day – Please Hear What I’m Not Saying |
2011 | Mostly Strange, Always Blue |
What Is It You Want? | |
2010 | MSNBC, Bring Back Keith !!! |
Value.. | |
Worse Still… | |
Afraid So… | |
Making It | |
Don’t Jump Small | |
Time | |
Push!! | |
I’m Still Here… (A Message To Keith Olbermann) | |
Choose | |
Not Yet… | |
Mean Too | |
Still Building (and Planning) | |
Hangin’ High | |
Always… | |
A Way Of Thinking, An Essential Tool
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged A Way Of Thinking, Carl Sagan, Democracy, Facts, Hypotheses, Knowledge, New Ideas, Philosophy, Preconceptions, Quotes, Science, Scientists, Skeptical Scrutiny, Wisdom on November 5, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Science is much more than a body of knowledge. It is a way of thinking. This is central to its success. Science invites us to let the facts in, even when they don’t conform to our preconceptions. It counsels us to carry alternative hypotheses in our heads and see which ones best match the facts. It urges on us a fine balance between no-holds-barred openness to new ideas, however heretical, and the most rigorous skeptical scrutiny of everything — new ideas and established wisdom. We need wide appreciation of this kind of thinking. It works. It’s an essential tool for a democracy in an age of change. Our task is not just to train more scientists but also to deepen public understanding of science. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Experience A Simple Whatever |
A Thousand Kisses | |
2020 | Talking Politics With Trump Republicans |
In Another Lifetime | |
2019 | People Will Come |
Change Is Here… | |
2018 | Be My Hero – Vote Tomorrow! |
He Was All Of Us… | |
2017 | Black And White |
Advice For #DumbDonald | |
2016 | Mirror, Mirror |
2015 | Speaking With Forked Tongue |
2014 | The Code |
2013 | Eventually Formed |
2012 | Remember To Vote Tomorrow |
2011 | It Sounds Like Chaos Theory To Me |
In The Beginning…
Posted in Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Apple Pie, Carl Sagan, Creation, Humor, Philosophy, Quotes, Science, The Universe on November 4, 2022| Leave a Comment »
If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Are We Talking About Health Insurance / Oil Companies, Facebook Or Faux News? |
When MTV Was Young (And Fun) | |
2020 | Resting |
A New Day Just Means We Continue The Struggle (With A Smile) | |
2019 | One For Two |
Why Trump Insults Pelosi and Schiff | |
2018 | The Worst |
2017 | #DonTheCon In The Oval Office |
2016 | Are You Like #AmnestyDon And Sarah Palin? |
2015 | Begin Today |
2014 | Look Again (At Life’s Illusions) |
2013 | None Knows |
2012 | Yet |
2011 | No End In Sight |
2010 | Back At It… |
Just Waiting
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Discovery, Education, Knowledge, Philosophy, Quotes, Science, Waiting on September 21, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | I’ll Keep Trying To Anyway |
She Knows | |
2020 | Respond |
Still Trying To Adjust | |
2019 | The Limits Of My Knowledge |
2018 | Even Tiny Progress |
2017 | Real Conservatism |
2016 | The Business Of Life |
2015 | Alone Again, Naturally |
2014 | Agreed |
2013 | Smile From Your Heart! |
2012 | Like You |
2011 | Got Days? |
2010 | K9 Humor – Has Anyone Seen My Setter? (Must read!!) |
A Longer Blog Than You Want To Read (Probably) | |
2009 | Back and Forth and Round Again… |
Preparation
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Carl Sagan, Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science, Thesis on July 8, 2022| Leave a Comment »
If you take a look at science in its everyday function, of course you find that scientists run the gamut of human emotions and personalities and character and so on. But there’s one thing that is really striking to the outsider, and that is the gauntlet of criticism that is considered acceptable or even desirable. The poor graduate student at his or her Ph.D. oral exam is subjected to a withering crossfire of questions that sometimes seem hostile or contemptuous; this from the professors who have the candidate’s future in their grasp. The students naturally are nervous; who wouldn’t be? True, they’ve prepared for it for years. But they understand that at that critical moment they really have to be able to answer questions. So in preparing to defend their theses, they must anticipate questions; they have to think, “Where in my thesis is there a weakness that someone else might find — because I sure better find it before they do, because if they find it and I’m not prepared, I’m in deep trouble.” | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | No Profit Without Risk |
And One For Me | |
2020 | He’s Forgotten About Drugs And Rock ‘N Roll |
2019 | I Still Walk Daily |
A Windy Monday | |
2018 | No Religious Test, Yes Religious Ban |
2017 | Looking At #DumbDonald |
2016 | No Great Thing |
2015 | Happy Memory |
Of Two Minds | |
2014 | Sums |
2013 | Memories & Binging |
Admiration Due | |
2012 | Choices Matter |
2011 | Acceptance Is The Key |
2010 | Just A Permanent Crease… |
Bodily Functions | |
Tinges…
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Animals, Behaviour, Carl Sagan, Eating Flesh, Feeling Pain, Philosophy, Quotes, Suffering on July 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Humans — who enslave, castrate, experiment on, and fillet other animals — have had an understandable penchant for pretending animals do not feel pain. A sharp distinction between humans and ‘animals’ is essential if we are to bend them to our will, make them work for us, wear them, eat them — without any disquieting tinges of guilt or regret. It is unseemly of us, who often behave so unfeelingly toward other animals, to contend that only humans can suffer. The behavior of other animals renders such pretensions specious. They are just too much like us. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | The Truth Shall Keep Us Free |
Let Your Hair Down | |
2020 | But What About Tomorrow’s Blog Post? |
2019 | Don’t Forget Obstruction Of Justice |
An Honest, Unvarnished Assessment | |
2018 | #45 And The Republicans Are Pretending (So Far) |
2017 | Made |
2016 | Halves |
Accepted Fraud | |
2015 | Even The Little Ones |
2014 | Who’s On First? |
2013 | No Equal Measure |
2012 | A Single Host |
2011 | No Exemptions |
2010 | Memories Of KSA – Inside The Fire |
We Need Both
Posted in Economics, Environment, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Sagan, Imagination, Philosophy, Quotes, Skepticism, Truth on June 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »
We wish to pursue the truth no matter where it leads. But to find the truth, we need imagination and skepticism both. | |
— Carl Sagan | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Broaden The Circle |
The Phone Keeps Ringing | |
2020 | Stay Gentle |
2019 | Immoral #45 |
2018 | From My Soapbox |
2017 | The Single Most Effective Thing For Health |
2016 | A Trumpet Solo |
2015 | Potential Is A Heavy Burden |
2014 | Fear Not, Weep Not |
2013 | Half Way There |
2012 | Sacrificed Any Lately? |
2011 | The Value Of One’s Character |
2010 | Intervals |
On Being Human | |
Non-predictive Emergence | |
Events | |
Bodily Functions | |
Standing Thoughts | |
Sent Home Is Better Than Fixed | |