Carl Sagans The Demon-Haunted World as Social Commentary Essay

Carl Sagans The Demon-Haunted World as Social Commentary Carl Sagan sums up his view of the elemental flaw of soldiery in one phrase history reveals that we human beingness have a sad tendency to make the same mistakes once again and again (Sagan 424). Humans today have an understanding of the world most them that is vastly superior to that of their ancestors. In spite of this, a growing compute of tribe perpetu bothy fail to scrutinize to the degree necessary for the phylogeny of the self. According to Sagan, failure to think scientifically seems to be the reason wherefore most people get caught up in investing all their faith in as-yet-unproved phenomena such as flying saucers and even religion. By canvas globally relevant topics like these, Sagan attempts to ward off the demons of ignorance (Nickell 110). One of the strongest cases make 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 glistering of the possibility of having been abducted almost always snowballs into the firmest belief that one indeed has been abducted. level the strongest evidence often can be explained as something much more(prenominal) rational than it seems to the abductee. For example, scarring attributed to alien experiments could quite possibly be due to every manner of unconscious self-mutilating acts. Sagan contends that even claims of seeing extraterrestrials can be attributed to the brains executable retention, and subsequent projection, of dreams. People have occasionally recalled events of contact with alien career while under hypnosis. But Sagan contends that hypnosis is shoddy enough that its recognized in courts... ...nd the Sun and takes a year to do it (324). These facts arent mentioned in the hopes of instigating despair concerning the spare lack of fundamental knowledge across America. Rather, S agans purpose is to emphasize the pick out 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 what many people coveting 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 indigence of proof can only threaten to retard the progress of the human race. Work CitedNickell, 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.