His views on science and general living are simultaneously inspirational and galvanizing.
Let’s take a look at just a few of his ideas that are useful for all of us.
The kit is essentially a means to test arguments and find fallacies.
It’s a great toolset for skeptical thinking.
Here’s part of his kit:
Wherever possible there must be independent confirmation of the “facts.
Encourage substantive debate on the evidence by knowledgeable proponents of all points of view.
Arguments from authority carry little weight “authorities” have made mistakes in the past.
They will do so again in the future.
Spin more than one hypothesis.
Then think of tests by which you might systematically disprove each of the alternatives.
Try not to get overly attached to a hypothesis just because it’s yours.
It’s only a way station in the pursuit of knowledge.
Ask yourself why you like the idea.
Compare it fairly with the alternatives.
See if you’ve got the option to find reasons for rejecting it.
If you don’t, others will.
Sagan’s kit here isn’t just for science, of course.
It’s great for everything, frompresidential debatestostatistics.
When youchallenge those biases, you walk away with a better point of view.
The better you are at detecting baloney, the better your arguments will be in the long run.
He told me that anything that’s truly real can stand up to scrutiny.
That said, your own belief of the afterlife doesn’t have to be affected here.
The point is more about keeping yourself in check.
Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark.
That is an amazing thing,” they told me.
We are star stuff, my dad famously said, and he made me feel that way.
When it boils down to it, it’s about perspective.
