Foo - Carl Sagan

I read many books and articles from this guy when I was a teenager. I believed lots of the stuff he said about aliens. Now I think it was lot of BS but I still like the guy. So, what do you think about this guy?

I just read one of his essays on marijuana on another forum, pretty good read...

Scientists who use their position as scientists to promote other things that are not in their realm of expertise, are like you and me. If I were a bike mechanic, what would I be doing talking about a Rolls Royce jet engine? If I were a body builder and actor, what would I be doing as a governor of California?

Scientists who use their position as scientists to promote other things that are not in their realm of expertise, are like you and me. If I were a bike mechanic, what would I be doing talking about a Rolls Royce jet engine? If I were a body builder and actor, what would I be doing as a governor of California?

I think anyone can have a say or try anything, why would someone need to be an expert to have a say or try something new? Im sure it would help but ****! Look at our former President!
OK, Carl, I like/liked the guy, I think his thoughts on Aliens are more like "educated guesses" so that makes them a little more acceptable than mine.

Scientists who use their position as scientists to promote other things that are not in their realm of expertise, are like you and me. If I were a bike mechanic, what would I be doing talking about a Rolls Royce jet engine? If I were a body builder and actor, what would I be doing as a governor of California?

Yeah but Sagan was an astronomer and also philosopher of science. So I think you still have to judge what you think of him based on what you think he said rather than whether you think he should have said it.

If I were a body builder and actor, what would I be doing as a governor of California?
Didn't you just answer your own question? :innocent:

I am not sure what "stuff about aliens" you are referring to.

If you are talking about the Drake equation, he certainly helped give that some exposure. He also gave public credit to Frank Drake.

I couldn't care less about the marijuana topic. I have always admired Carl and will continue to do so indefinitely. He was one of the best teachers of his generation.

I read many books and articles from this guy when I was a teenager. I believed lots of the stuff he said about aliens. Now I think it was lot of BS but I still like the guy. So, what do you think about this guy?

What was BS? If something was an estimate or guess, he said so.

What was BS? If something was an estimate or guess, he said so.

He was narrating stories from his trips around the world. Mere legends he learned from the locals of the places he visited. He will go on and try to convince the reader that it was true and actually happened. At some points I was not sure if he was still narrating his trip or if he jumped into science fiction altogether. The line was blurred.

I spent many weekends on the roof, meditating, concentrating, while trying to move a pen over a paper with my eyes closed. I never got any alien message. :(

Yeah but Sagan was an astronomer and also philosopher of science. So I think you still have to judge what you think of him based on what you think he said rather than whether you think he should have said it.

Whether I think he should have said it is a ethical issue. If he is an expert in the natural sciences, then his comments on natural sciences will be judged by his peers.

I am not sure if he is a "philosopher of science", or even what that means. I believe that the natural sciences are empirical in its inquiry. Isn't that the scientific method?

I am not sure if he is a "philosopher of science", or even what that means. I believe that the natural sciences are empirical in its inquiry. Isn't that the scientific method?

'Philosophy of science' is an academic discipline that he was active in.

He was narrating stories from his trips around the world. Mere legends he learned from the locals of the places he visited. He will go on and try to convince the reader that it was true and actually happened. At some points I was not sure if he was still narrating his trip or if he jumped into science fiction altogether. The line was blurred.

I spent many weekends on the roof, meditating, concentrating, while trying to move a pen over a paper with my eyes closed. I never got any alien message. :(


You'd be surprised how many of those "mere legends" may be based on true facts, some if not most legends may be more credible than our so called "science facts" IMHO ;)

I'm going to say if you cannot produce the actual text then I am going to disbelieve this. At no point in Sagan's career was he ever known for attempting to convince readers that mythological stories were true.

Let's see the original text.

[QUOTE=Grumpy McTrumpy;8257983]I'm going to say if you cannot produce the actual text then I am going to disbelieve this. At no point in Sagan's career was he ever known for attempting to convince readers that mythological stories were true. QUOTE]

Didn't he spend most of his career trying to convince people that mythological stories aren't true?

Carl was alright...but he was no

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj60/charli1323/jack_hork.jpg

What do I think?

I think he's dead.

Carl was alright...but he was no

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj60/charli1323/jack_hork.jpg

thank heavens:rolleyes:

thank heavens:rolleyes:

LOL.....true though!