WONDERANDSKEPTICISM

byCarlSagan fromSkepticalEnquirer Volume19,Issue1,JanuaryFebruary1995

Iwasachildinatimeofhope.Igrewupwhentheexpectationsforscience wereveryhigh:inthethirtiesandforties.Iwenttocollegeintheearlyfifties, gotmyPh.D.in1960.Therewasasenseofoptimismaboutscienceandthe future.Idreamtofbeingabletodoscience.IgrewupinBrooklyn,NewYork, andIwasastreetkid.Icamefromanicenuclearfamily,butIspentalotof timeinthestreets,askidsdidthen.Ikneweverybushandhedge,streetlight andstoopandtheaterwallforplayingChinesehandball.Buttherewasone aspectofthatenvironmentthat,forsomereason,struckmeasdifferent,and thatwasthestars. Evenwithanearlybedtimeinwinteryoucouldseethestars.Whatwerethey? Theyweren'tlikehedgesorevenstreetlights;theyweredifferent.SoIasked myfriendswhattheywere.Theysaid,"They'relightsinthesky,kid."Icould telltheywerelightsinthesky,butthatwasn'tanexplanation.Imean,what werethey?Littleelectricbulbsonlongblackwires,soyoucouldn'tseewhat theywereheldupby?Whatwerethey? Notonlycouldnobodytellme,butnobodyevenhadthesensethatitwasan interestingquestion.Theylookedatmefunny.Iaskedmyparents;Iaskedmy parents'friends;Iaskedotheradults.Noneofthemknew. Mymothersaidtome,"Look,we'vejustgotyoualibrarycard.Takeit,geton thestreetcar,gototheNewUtrechtbranchoftheNewYorkPublicLibrary,get outabookandfindtheanswer."

Thatseemedtomeafantasticallycleveridea.Imadethejourney.Iaskedthe librarianforabookonstars.(Iwasverysmall;Icanstillrememberlookingup ather,andshewassittingdown.)Shewasgoneafewminutes,broughtone back,andgaveittome.EagerlyIsatdownandopenedthepages.Butitwas aboutJeanHarlowandClarkGable,Ithink,aterribledisappointment.AndsoI wentbacktoher,explained(itwasn'teasyformetodo)thatthatwasn'twhat Ihadinmindatall,thatwhatIwantedwasabookaboutrealstars.She thoughtthiswasfunny,whichembarrassedmefurther.Butanyway,shewent andgotanotherbook,therightkindofbook.Itookitandopeneditandslowly turnedthepages,untilIcametotheanswer. Itwasinthere.Itwasstunning.TheanswerwasthattheSunwasastar,except veryfaraway.Thestarsweresuns;ifyouwereclosetothem,theywouldlook justlikeoursun.ItriedtoimaginehowfarawayfromtheSunyou'dhavetobe forittobeasdimasastar.OfcourseIdidn'tknowtheinversesquarelawof lightpropagation;Ihadn'taghostofachanceoffiguringitout.Butitwasclear tomethatyou'dhavetobeveryfaraway.Fartheraway,probably,thanNew Jersey.Thedazzlingideaofauniversevastbeyondimaginingsweptoverme.It hasstayedwithmeeversince. Isensedawe.Andlateron(ittookmeseveralyearstofindthis),Irealizedthat wewereonaplanetalittle,nonselfluminousworldgoingaroundourstar. Andsoallthoseotherstarsmighthaveplanetsgoingaroundthem.Ifplanets, thenlife,intelligence,otherBrooklynswhoknew?Thediversityofthose possibleworldsstruckme.Theydidn'thavetobeexactlylikeours,Iwassure ofit. Itseemedthemostexcitingthingtostudy.Ididn'trealizethatyoucouldbea professionalscientist;IhadtheideathatI'dhavetobe,Idon'tknow,a salesman(myfathersaidthatwasbetterthanthemanufacturingendof things),anddoscienceonweekendsandevenings.Itwasn'tuntilmy sophomoreyearinhighschoolthatmybiologyteacherrevealedtomethat therewassuchathingasaprofessionalscientist,whogotpaidtodoit;soyou couldspendallyourtimelearningabouttheuniverse.Itwasagloriousday. It'sbeenmyenormousgoodluckIwasbornatjusttherighttimetohave had,tosomeextent,thosechildhoodambitionssatisfied.I'vebeeninvolvedin

theexplorationofthesolarsystem,inthemostamazingparalleltothescience fictionofmychildhood.Weactuallysendspacecrafttootherworlds.Weflyby them;weorbitthem;welandonthem.Wedesignandcontroltherobots:Tell ittodig,anditdigs.Tellittodeterminethechemistryofasoilsample,andit determinesthechemistry.Formethecontinuumfromchildhoodwonderand earlysciencefictiontoprofessionalrealityhasbeenalmostseamless.It'snever been,"Oh,gee,thisisnothinglikewhatIhadimagined."justtheopposite:It's exactlylikewhatIimagined.AndsoIfeelenormouslyfortunate. Scienceisstilloneofmychiefjoys.ThepopularizationofsciencethatIsaac Asimovdidsowellthecommunicationnotjustofthefindingsbutofthe methodsofscienceseemstomeasnaturalasbreathing.Afterall,when you'reinlove,youwanttotelltheworld.Theideathatscientistsshouldn'ttalk abouttheirsciencetothepublicseemstomebizarre. There'sanotherreasonIthinkpopularizingscienceisimportant,whyItrytodo it.It'saforebodingIhavemaybeillplacedofanAmericainmychildren's generation,ormygrandchildren'sgeneration,whenallthemanufacturing industrieshaveslippedawaytoothercountries;whenwe'reaserviceand informationprocessingeconomy;whenawesometechnologicalpowersarein thehandsofaveryfew,andnoonerepresentingthepublicinteresteven graspstheissues;whenthepeople(by"thepeople"Imeanthebroad populationinademocracy)havelosttheabilitytosettheirownagendas,or eventoknowledgeablyquestionthosewhodosettheagendas;whenthereis nopracticeinquestioningthoseinauthority;when,clutchingourcrystalsand religiouslyconsultingourhoroscopes,ourcriticalfacultiesinsteepdecline, unabletodistinguishbetweenwhat'strueandwhatfeelsgood,weslide, almostwithoutnoticing,intosuperstitionanddarkness.CSICOPplaysa sometimeslonelybutstillandinthiscasethewordmayberightheroic roleintryingtocountersomeofthosetrends. Wehaveacivilizationbasedonscienceandtechnology,andwe'vecleverly arrangedthingssothatalmostnobodyunderstandsscienceandtechnology. Thatisasclearaprescriptionfordisasterasyoucanimagine.Whilewemight getawaywiththiscombustiblemixtureofignoranceandpowerforawhile, soonerorlaterit'sgoingtoblowupinourfaces,Thepowersofmodern technologyaresoformidablethatit'sinsufficientjusttosay,"Well,thosein

charge,I'msure,aredoingagoodjob."Thisisademocracy,andforustomake surethatthepowersofscienceandtechnologyareusedproperlyand prudently,weourselvesmustunderstandscienceandtechnology.Wemustbe involvedinthedecisionmakingprocess. Thepredictivepowersofsomeareas,atleast,ofsciencearephenomenal. TheyaretheclearestcounterargumentIcanimaginetothosewhosay,"Oh, scienceissituational;scienceisjustthecurrentfashion;scienceisthe promotionoftheselfinterestsofthoseinpower."Surelythereissomeofthat. Surelyifthere'sanypowerfultool,thoseinpowerwilltrytouseit,oreven monopolizeit.Surelyscientists,beingpeople,growupinasocietyandreflect theprejudicesofthatsociety.Howcoulditbeotherwise?Somescientistshave beennationalists;somehavebeenracists;somehavebeensexists.Butthat doesn'tunderminethevalidityofscience.It'sjustaconsequenceofbeing human. So,imaginetherearesomanyareaswecouldthinkofimagineyouwantto knowthesexofyourunbornchild.Thereareseveralapproaches.Youcould, forexample,dowhatthelatefilmstarwhoAnnieandIadmiregreatlyCary Grantdidbeforehewasanactor:Inacarnivalorfairorconsultingroom,you suspendawatchoraplumbbobabovetheabdomenoftheexpectantmother; ifitswingsleftrightit'saboy,andifitswingsforwardbackit'sagirl.The methodworksonetimeintwo.Ofcoursehewasoutoftherebeforethebaby wasborn,soheneverheardfromcustomerswhocomplainedhegotitwrong. Beingrightonechanceintwothat'snotsobad.It'sbetterthan,say, Kremlinologistsusedtodo.Butifyoureallywanttoknow,thenyougoto amniocentesis,ortosonograms;andthereyourchanceofbeingrightis99out of100.It'snotperfect,butit'sawholelotbetterthanoneoutoftwo.Ifyou reallywanttoknow,yougotoscience. Orsupposeyouwantedtoknowwhenthenexteclipseofthesunis.Science doessomethingreallyastonishing:Itcantellyouacenturyinadvancewhere theeclipseisgoingtobeonEarthandwhen,say,totalitywillbe,tothe second.Thinkofthepredictivepowerthisimplies.Thinkofhowmuchyou mustunderstandtobeabletosaywhenandwherethere'sgoingtobean eclipsesofarinthefuture.

Or(thesamephysicsexactly)imaginelaunchingaspacecraftfromEarth,like theVoyagerspacecraftin1977;12yearslaterVoyagerIarrivesatNeptune within100kilometersorsomethingofwhereitwassupposedtobenothaving tousesomeofthemidcoursecorrectionsthatwereavailable;12years,5 billionkilometers,ontarget! Soifyouwanttoreallybeabletopredictthefuturenotineverything,butin someareasthere'sonlyoneregimeofhumanscholarship,ofhumanclaims toknowledge,thatreallydeliversthegoods,andthat'sscience.Religions wouldgivetheireyeteethtobeabletopredictanythinglikethatwell.Thinkof howmuchmileagetheywouldmakeiftheyevercoulddopredictions comparablyunambiguousandprecise. Nowhowdoesitwork?Whyisitsosuccessful? Sciencehasbuiltinerrorcorrectingmechanismsbecausesciencerecognizes thatscientists,likeeverybodyelse,arefallible,thatwemakemistakes,that we'redrivenbythesameprejudicesaseverybodyelse.Therearenoforbidden questions.Argumentsfromauthorityareworthless.Claimsmustbe demonstrated.Adhommemargumentsargumentsaboutthepersonalityof somebodywhodisagreeswithyouareirrelevant;theycanbesleazeballsand beright,andyoucanbeapillarofthecommunityandbewrong. Ifyoutakealookatscienceinitseverydayfunction,ofcourseyoufindthat scientistsrunthegamutofhumanemotionsandpersonalitiesandcharacter andsoon.Butthere'sonethingthatisreallystrikingtotheoutsider,andthat isthegauntletofcriticismthatisconsideredacceptableorevendesirable.The poorgraduatestudentathisorherPh.D.oralexamissubjectedtoawithering crossfireofquestionsthatsometimesseemhostileorcontemptuous;thisfrom theprofessorswhohavethecandidate'sfutureintheirgrasp.Thestudents naturallyarenervous;whowouldn'tbe?True,they'vepreparedforitforyears. Buttheyunderstandthatatthatcriticalmomenttheyreallyhavetobeableto answerquestions.Soinpreparingtodefendtheirtheses,theymustanticipate questions;theyhavetothink,"Whereinmythesisisthereaweaknessthat someoneelsemightfindbecauseIsurebetterfinditbeforetheydo, becauseiftheyfinditandI'mnotprepared,I'mindeeptrouble."

Youtakealookatcontentiousscientificmeetings.Youfinduniversitycolloquia inwhichthespeakerhashardlygotten30secondsintopresentingwhatsheor heissaying,andsuddenlythereareinterruptions,maybewitheringquestions, fromtheaudience.Youtakealookatthepublicationconventionsinwhichyou submitascientificpapertoajournal,anditgoesouttoanonymousreferees whosejobitistothink,Didyoudoanythingstupid?Ifyoudidn'tdoanything stupid,isthereanythinginherethatissufficientlyinterestingtobepublished? Whatarethedeficienciesofthispaper?Hasitbeendonebyanybodyelse?Is theargumentadequate,orshouldyouresubmitthepaperafteryou'veactually demonstratedwhatyou'respeculatingon?Andsoon.Andit'sanonymous: Youdon'tknowwhoyourcriticsare.Youhavetorelyontheeditortosendit outtorealexpertswhoarenotovertlymalicious.Thisistheeveryday expectationinthescientificcommunity.Andthosewhodon'texpectiteven goodscientistswhojustcan'tholdupundercriticismhavedifficultcareers. Whydoweputupwithit?Doweliketobecriticized?No,noscientistlikesto becriticized.Everyscientistfeelsanaffectionforhisorherideasandscientific results.Youfeelprotectiveofthem.Butyoudon'treplytocritics:"Waita minute,waitaminute;thisisareallygoodidea.I'mveryfondofit.It'sdone younoharm.Pleasedon'tattackit."That'snotthewayitgoes.Thehardbut justruleisthatiftheideasdon'twork,youmustthrowthemaway.Don't wasteanyneuronsonwhatdoesn'twork.Devotethoseneuronstonewideas thatbetterexplainthedata.Validcriticismisdoingyouafavor. Thereisarewardstructureinsciencethatisveryinteresting:Ourhighest honorsgotothosewhodisprovethefindingsofthemostreveredamongus. SoEinsteinisreverednotjustbecausehemadesomanyfundamental contributionstoscience,butbecausehefoundanimperfectioninthe fundamentalcontributionofIsaacNewton.(IsaacNewtonwassurelythe greatestphysicistbeforeAlbertEinstein.) Nowthinkofwhatotherareasofhumansocietyhavesucharewardstructure, inwhichwereverethosewhoprovethatthefundamentaldoctrinesthatwe haveadoptedarewrong.Thinkofitinpolitics,orineconomics,orinreligion; thinkofitinhowweorganizeoursociety.Often,it'sexactlytheopposite: Therewerewardthosewhoreassureusthatwhatwe'vebeentoldisright, thatweneednotconcernourselvesaboutit.Thisdifference,Ibelieve,isat

leastabasicreasonwhywe'vemadesomuchprogressinscience,andsolittle insomeotherareas. Wearefallible.Wecannotexpecttofoistourwishesontheuniverse.So anotherkeyaspectofscienceisexperiment.Scientistsdonottrustwhatis intuitivelyobvious,becauseintuitivelyobviousgetsyounowhere.Thatthe Earthisflatwasonceobvious.Imean,reallyobvious;obvious!Gooutinaflat fieldandtakealook:Isitroundorflat?Don'tlistentome;goproveitto yourselfThatheavierbodiesfallfasterthanlightoneswasonceobvious.That bloodsuckingleechescurediseasewasonceobvious.Thatsomepeopleare naturallyandbydivinerightslaveswasonceobvious.ThattheEarthisatthe centeroftheuniversewasonceobvious.You'reskeptical?Goout,takealook: Starsriseintheeast,setinthewest;hereweare,stationary(doyoufeelthe Earthwhirling?);weseethemgoingaroundus.Weareatthecenter;theygo aroundus. Thetruthmaybepuzzling.Itmaytakesomeworktograpplewith.Itmaybe counterintuitive.Itmaycontradictdeeplyheldprejudices.Itmaynotbe consonantwithwhatwedesperatelywanttobetrue.Butourpreferencesdo notdeterminewhat'strue.Wehaveamethod,andthatmethodhelpsusto reachnotabsolutetruth,onlyasymptoticapproachestothetruthnever there,justcloserandcloser,alwaysfindingvastnewoceansofundiscovered possibilities.Cleverlydesignedexperimentsarethekey Inthe1920s,therewasadinneratwhichthephysicistRobertW.Woodwas askedtorespondtoatoast.Thiswasatimewhenpeoplestoodup,madea toast,andthenselectedsomeonetorespond.Nobodyknewwhattoastthey'd beaskedtoreplyto,soitwasachallengeforthequickwitted.Inthiscasethe toastwas:"Tophysicsandmetaphysics."Nowbymetaphysicswasmeant somethinglikephilosophytruthsthatyoucouldgettojustbythinkingabout them.Woodtookasecond,glancedabouthim,andansweredalongthese lines:Thephysicisthasanidea,hesaid.Themorehethinksitthrough,the moresenseitmakestohim.Hegoestothescientificliterature,andthemore hereads,themorepromisingtheideaseems.Thusprepared,hedevisesan experimenttotesttheidea.Theexperimentispainstaking.Manypossibilities areeliminatedortakenintoaccount;theaccuracyofthemeasurementis refined.Attheendofallthiswork,theexperimentiscompletedand...the

ideaisshowntobeworthless.Thephysicistthendiscardstheidea,freeshis mind(asIwassayingamomentago)fromtheclutteroferror,andmoveson tosomethingelse. Thedifferencebetweenphysicsandmetaphysics,Woodconcluded,isthatthe metaphysicisthasnolaboratory. Whyisitsoimportanttohavewidelydistributedunderstandingofscienceand technology?Foronething,it'sthegoldenroadoutofpovertyfordeveloping nations.Anddevelopingnationsunderstandthat,becauseyouhaveonlyto lookatmodernAmericangraduateschoolsinmathematics,inengineering, inphysicstofind,incaseaftercase,thatmorethanhalfthestudentsare fromothercountries.ThisissomethingAmericaisdoingfortheworld.Butit conveysaclearsensethatthedevelopingnationsunderstandwhatisessential fortheirfuture.WhatworriesmeisthatAmericansmaynotbeequallyclear onthesubject. Letmetouchonthedangersoftechnology.Almosteveryastronautwhohas visitedEarthorbithasmadethispoint:Iwasupthere,theysay,andIlooked towardthehorizon,andtherewasthisthin,bluebandthat'stheEarth's atmosphere.Ihadbeentoldweliveinanoceanofair.Butthereitwas,so fragile,suchadelicateblue:Iwasworriedforit. Infact,thethicknessoftheEarth'satmosphere,comparedwiththesizeofthe Earth,isinaboutthesameratioasthethicknessofacoatofshellacona schoolroomglobeistothediameteroftheglobe.That'stheairthatnurtures usandalmostallotherlifeonEarth,thatprotectsusfromdeadlyultraviolet lightfromthesun,thatthroughthegreenhouseeffectbringsthesurface temperatureabovethefreezingpoint.(Withoutthegreenhouseeffect,the entireEarthwouldplungebelowthefreezingpointofwaterandwe'dallbe dead.)Nowthatatmosphere,sothinandfragile,isunderassaultbyour technology.Wearepumpingallkindsofstuffintoit.Youknowaboutthe concernthatchlorofluorocarbonsaredepletingtheozonelayer;andthat carbondioxideandmethaneandothergreenhousegasesareproducingglobal warming,asteadytrendamidstfluctuationsproducedbyvolcaniceruptions

andothersources.Whoknowswhatotherchallengesweareposingtothis vulnerablelayerofairthatwehaven'tbeenwiseenoughtoforesee? Theinadvertentsideeffectsoftechnologycanchallengetheenvironmenton whichourverylivesdepend.Thatmeansthatwemustunderstandscienceand technology;wemustanticipatelongtermconsequencesinaverycleverway notjustthebottomlineontheprofitandlosscolumnforthecorporationfor thisyear,buttheconsequencesforthenationandthespecies10,20,50,100 yearsinthefuture.Ifweabsolutelystopallchlorofluorocarbonandallied chemicalproductionrightnow(aswe'reinfactdoing),theozonospherewill healitselfinaboutahundredyears.Thereforeourchildren,ourgrandchildren, ourgreatgrandchildrenmustsufferthroughthemistakesthatwe'vemade. That'sasecondreasonforscienceeducation:thedangersoftechnology.We mustunderstandthembetter. Athirdreason:origins.Everyhumanculturehasdevotedsomeofits intellectual,moral,andmaterialresourcestotryingtounderstandwhere everythingcomesfromournation,ourspecies,ourplanet,ourstar,our galaxy,ouruniverse.Stopsomeoneonthestreetandaskaboutit.Youwillnot findmanypeoplewhoneverthoughtaboutit,whoareincuriousabouttheir ultimateorigins. Iholdthere'sakindofGresham'sLawthatappliesintheconfrontationof scienceandpseudoscience:Inthepopularimagination,atleast,thebad sciencedrivesoutthegood.WhatImeanisthis:Ifyouareawashinlost continentsandchannelingandUFOsandallthelonglitanyofclaimssowell exposedintheSkepticalInquirer,youmaynothaveintellectualroomforthe findingsofscience.You'resatedwithwonder.Ourcultureinonewayproduces thefantasticfindingsofscience,andtheninanotherwaycutsthemoffbefore theyreachtheaverageperson.Sopeoplewhoarecurious,intelligent, dedicatedtounderstandingtheworld,mayneverthelessbe(inourview) enmiredinsuperstitionandpseudoscience.Youcouldsay,Well,theyoughtto knowbetter,theyoughttobemorecritical,andsoon;butthat'stooharsh.It's notverymuchtheirfault,Isay.It'sthefaultofasocietythatpreferentially propagatesthebaloneyandholdsbacktheambrosia.

Theleasteffectivewayforskepticstogettheattentionofthesebright, curious,interestedpeopleistobelittle,orcondescend,orshowarrogance towardtheirbeliefs.Theymaybecredulous,butthey'renotstupid.Ifwebear inmindhumanfrailtyandfallibility,wewillunderstandtheirplight. Forexample:I'velatelybeenthinkingaboutalienabductions,andfalseclaims ofchildhoodsexualabuse,andstoriesofsatanicritualabuseinthecontextof recoveredmemories.Thereareinterestingsimilaritiesamongthoseclassesof cases.Ithinkifwearetounderstandanyofthem,wemustunderstandallof them.Butthere'samaddeningtendencyoftheskeptics,whenaddressing inventedstoriesofchildhoodsexualabuse,toforgetthatrealandappalling abusehappens.Itisnottruethatalltheseclaimsofchildhoodsexualabuseare sillyandpumpedupbyunethicaltherapists.Yesterday'spaperreportedthata surveyof13statesfoundthatonesixthofalltherapevictimsreportedto policeareundertheageof12.Andthisisacategoryofrapethatis preferentiallyunderreportedtopolice,forobviousreasons.Ofthesegirls, onefifthwererapedbytheirfathers.That'salotofpeople,andalotof betrayal.Wemustbearthatinmindwhenweconsiderpatientswho,say, becausetheyhaveaneatingdisorder,havesuppressedchildhoodsexualabuse diagnosedbytheirpsychiatrists. Peoplearenotstupid.Theybelievethingsforreasons.Letusnotdismiss pseudoscienceorevensuperstitionwithcontempt. Inthenineteenthcenturyitwasmediums:You'dgototheseance,andyou'd beputintouchwithdeadrelatives.Thesedaysit'salittledifferent;it'scalled channeling.Whatbotharebasicallyaboutisthehumanfearofdying.Idon't knowaboutyou;Ifindtheideaofdyingunpleasant.IfIhadachoice,atleast forawhile,Iwouldjustassoonnotdie.TwiceinmylifeIcameverycloseto doingso.(Ididnothaveaneardeathexperience,I'msorrytosay.)Ican understandanxietyaboutdying. About14yearsagobothmyparentsdied.Wehadaverygoodrelationship.I wasveryclosetothem.Istillmissthemterribly.Iwouldn'taskmuch:Iwould likefiveminutesayearwiththem;totellthemhowtheirkidsandtheir grandchildrenaredoing,andhowAnnieandIaredoing.Iknowitsounds stupid,butI'dliketoaskthem,"Iseverythingallrightwithyou?"Justalittle

contact.SoIdon'tguffawatwomenwhogototheirhusbands'tombstones andchatthemupeverynowandthen.That'snothardtounderstand.Andif wehavedifficultiesontheontologicalstatusofwhoitisthey'retalkingto, that'sallright.That'snotwhatthisisabout.Thisishumansbeinghuman. Inthealienabductioncontext,I'vebeentryingtounderstandthefactthat humanshallucinatethatit'sahumancommonplaceyes,underconditionsof sensorydeprivationordrugsordeprivalofREMsleep,butalsojustinthe ordinarycourseofexistence.Ihave,maybeadozentimessincemyparents died,heardoneofthemsaymyname:justthesingleword,"Carl."Imissthem, theycalledmebymyfirstnamesomuchduringthetimetheywerealive;Iwas inthepracticeofrespondinginstantlywhenIwascalled;ithasdeeppsychic roots.Somybrainplaysitbackeverynowandthen.Thisdoesn'tsurpriseme atall;Isortoflikeit.Butit'sahallucination.IfIwerealittlelessskeptical, though,Icouldseehoweasyitwouldbetosay,"They'rearoundsomewhere.I canhearthem." RaymondMoody,whoisanM.D.,Ithink,anauthorwhowritesinnumerable booksonlifeafterdeath,actuallyquotedmeinthefirstchapterofhislatest book,sayingthatIheardmyparentscallingmeCarl,andso,look,evenhe believesinlifeafterdeath.Thisbadlymissesmypoint.Ifthisisoneofthe argumentsfromchapterIofthelatestbookofaprincipalexponentoflifeafter death,Isuspectthatdespiteourmostferventwishes,thecaseisweak. Butstill,supposeIwasn'tsteepedinthevirtuesofscientificskepticismandfelt asIdoaboutmyparents,andalongcomessomeonewhosays,"Icanputyou intouchwiththem."Supposehe'sclever,andfoundoutsomethingaboutmy parentsinthepast,andisgoodatfakingvoices,andsoonadarkenedroom andincenseandallofthat.Icouldseebeingsweptawayemotionally. WouldyouthinklessofmeifIfellforit?ImagineIwasnevereducatedabout skepticism,hadnoideathatit'savirtue,butinsteadbelievedthatitwas grumpyandnegativeandrejectingofeverythingthat'shumane.Couldn'tyou understandmyopennesstobeingconnedbyamediumorachanneler? ThechiefdeficiencyIseeintheskepticalmovementisitspolarization:Usvs. Themthesensethatwehaveamonopolyonthetruth;thatthoseother

peoplewhobelieveinallthesestupiddoctrinesaremorons;thatifyou're sensible,you'lllistentous;andifnot,tohellwithyou.Thisisnonconstructive. Itdoesnotgetourmessageacross.Itcondemnsustopermanentminority status.Whereas,anapproachthatfromthebeginningacknowledgesthe humanrootsofpseudoscienceandsuperstition,thatrecognizesthatthe societyhasarrangedthingssothatskepticismisnotwelltaught,mightbe muchmorewidelyaccepted.* *Ifskepticalhabitsofthoughtarewidelydistributedandprized,then whoistheskepticismgoingtobemainlyappliedto?Tothoseinpower. Thoseinpower,therefore,donothaveavestedinterestineverybody beingabletoasksearchingquestions. Ifweunderstandthis,thenofcoursewehavecompassionfortheabductees andthosewhocomeuponcropcirclesandbelievethey'resupernatural,orat leastofextraterrestrialmanufacture.Thisiskeytomakingscienceandthe scientificmethodmoreattractive,especiallytotheyoung,becauseit'sabattle forthefuture. Scienceinvolvesaseeminglyselfcontradictorymixofattitudes:Ontheone handitrequiresanalmostcompleteopennesstoallideas,nomatterhow bizarreandweirdtheysound,apropensitytowonder.AsIwalkalong,mytime slowsdown;Ishrinkinthedirectionofmotion,andIgetmoremassive.That's crazy!Onthescaleoftheverysmall,themoleculecanbeinthisposition,in thatposition,butitisprohibitedfrombeinginanyintermediateposition. That'swild!Butthefirstisastatementofspecialrelativity,andthesecondisa consequenceofquantummechanics.Likeitornot,that'sthewaytheworldis. Ifyouinsistthatit'sridiculous,youwillbeforeverclosedtothemajorfindings ofscience.Butatthesametime,sciencerequiresthemostvigorousand uncompromisingskepticism,becausethevastmajorityofideasaresimply wrong,andtheonlywayyoucandistinguishtherightfromthewrong,the wheatfromthechaff,isbycriticalexperimentandanalysis. Toomuchopennessandyouaccepteverynotion,idea,andhypothesiswhich istantamounttoknowingnothing.Toomuchskepticismespecially_aally rejectionofnewideasbeforetheyareadequatelytestedandyou'renotonly

unpleasantlygrumpy,butalsoclosedtotheadvanceofscience.Ajudiciousmix iswhatweneed. It'snofun,asIsaidatthebeginning,tobeonthereceivingendofskeptical questioning.Butit'stheaffordablepricewepayforhavingthebenefitsofso powerfulatoolasscience. byCarlSagan

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