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 basic flaw of humanness in one phrase history reveals that we humans have a sad tendency to make the same mistakes again and again (Sagan 424). gentleman today have an down the stairsstanding of the world around them that is vastly blue-ribbon(prenominal) to that of their ancestors. In spite of this, a growing number of tidy sum perpetually fail to scrutinize to the degree necessary for the evolution of the self. According to Sagan, disappointment 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 germane(predicate) 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 UF O abductions is the fact that trial impression is neither sought nor accepted by the subject. The faintest glimmer of the possibility of having been abducted some always snowballs into the firmest belief that one indeed has been abducted. Even the strongest evidence oftentimes go off be explained as something much more rational than it seems to the abductee. For example, scarring attributed to stranger experiments could quite possibly be due to any manner of unconscious mind self-mutilating acts. Sagan contends that even claims of seeing extraterrestrials can be attributed to the brains possible retention, and subsequent projection, of dreams. multitude have occasionally recalled events of contact with alien life 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 apparent lack of primal knowledge a cross America. Rather, Sagans purpose is to emphasize the need for a scientifically literate public (324). In summary, Sagan relates that the mistake that man continuously makes is be led down stray courses. He intrusts that what many people wish to be true, they believe is true (325). A dangerous number of people fail to mistrust 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 CitedNickell, Joe. spirit for a Miracle. New York Prometheus Books, 1998. Sagan, Carl. The Demon-Haunted World Science as a compact disc in the Dark. New York Random, 1996.