Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
One trend that bothers me is the glorification of stupidity, that the media is reassuring people it's alright not to know anything. That to me is far more dangerous than a little pornography on the Internet.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote criticizes the media for promoting ignorance and devaluing knowledge.
Carl Sagan's quote highlights a troubling trend in society where ignorance is celebrated and knowledge is undervalued. He argues that this glorification of stupidity poses a greater danger to society than issues like pornography, as it can lead to a populace ill-equipped to make informed decisions and engage with the world critically.
Themes
IgnoranceKnowledgeMediaStupidityDanger
In practice
Example use cases
During a lecture on education reform, one might reference this quote to emphasize the importance of promoting knowledge.
More from Carl Sagan
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How smart does a chimpanzee have to be before killing him constitutes murder?
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The hole in the ozone layer is a kind of skywriting. At first it seemed to spell out our continuing complacency before a witch's brew of deadly perils. But perhaps it really tells of a newfound talent to work together to protect the global environment.
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There is a reward structure in science that is very interesting: Our highest honors go to those who disprove the findings of the most revered among us. So Einstein is revered not just because he made so many fundamental contributions to science, but because he found an imperfection in the fundamental contribution of Isaac Newton.
Carl SaganRead
The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
Carl SaganRead
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Service-learning is a particularly fertile way of involving young people in community service, because it ties helping others to what they are learning in the classroom. It enables them to apply academic disciplines to practical, everyday problems. In the process, it provides a compelling answer to the adolescent's perennial question, 'Why do I need to learn this stuff?
Colin PowellRead