Cosmos 1980 - Revision history

Bferrell at 14:56, 15 January 2020

2020-01-15T14:56:11Z

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Bferrell at 23:16, 29 March 2019

2019-03-29T23:16:15Z

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	I will say, as I have rewatched the series (including the "Updates") and the 2014 remake, I think I can appreciate Carl Sagan better than I ever did before. I've read his wiki and watched some tributes to him, and watching the orginal series I was struck, for the second time, by the beauty of his devotion to the scientific method, in heart and principle. When I look at some of the "Update" segments, I felt he betrayed these ideals, just a little. Maybe that's not fair, it is possible that some of the informaiton about the manipulation of climate data and shouting down of contrary, unpopular opinions was not as developed as it is today. However, I thought I detected his thinking had hardened and he was becoming an advocate rather than simply a Scientist, a pursuer of truth.		I will say, as I have rewatched the series (including the "Updates") and the 2014 remake, I think I can appreciate Carl Sagan better than I ever did before. I've read his wiki and watched some tributes to him, and watching the orginal series I was struck, for the second time, by the beauty of his devotion to the scientific method, in heart and principle. When I look at some of the "Update" segments, I felt he betrayed these ideals, just a little. Maybe that's not fair, it is possible that some of the informaiton about the manipulation of climate data and shouting down of contrary, unpopular opinions was not as developed as it is today. However, I thought I detected his thinking had hardened and he was becoming an advocate rather than simply a Scientist, a pursuer of truth.

	When I look at his students, such as Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye, I see what I believe his colleagues at Harvard were afraid of, and why they pushed the College to deny him tenure. I read that many of them regretted that later, and could see how his popularization of Science was a good for the practice of Science, and indeed for the Country, and maybe the World. But the fear was that he was a self-promoter, stealing ~~others~~ ideas, and driving an agenda. I believe that is what we see now, that ~~Scientist~~ attempt to drive funding decisions by government and educational institutions to support the causes and ~~believes~~ they have. This is anathema to science, which should be the pursuit of truth. I believe young Carl was immune to this, a true idealog for the pursuit of truth. But it is hard, and the longer you live within a community that believes the way you do, and the more you are adored, the stronger the pull to use your popularity. This is what young Carl said, and I why I found him so compelling...		When I look at his students, such as Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye, I see what I believe his colleagues at Harvard were afraid of, and why they pushed the College to deny him tenure. I read that many of them regretted that later, and could see how his popularization of Science was a good for the practice of Science, and indeed for the Country, and maybe the World. But the fear was that he was a self-promoter, stealing other's ideas, and driving an agenda. I believe that is what we see now, that Scientists attempt to drive funding decisions by government and educational institutions to support the causes and beliefs they have. This is anathema to science, which should be the pursuit of ''truth''. I believe young Carl was immune to this, a true idealog for the pursuit of truth. But it is hard, and the longer you live within a community that believes the way you do, and the more you are adored, the stronger the pull to use your popularity. This is what young Carl said, and I why I found him so compelling...

	<blockquote>Science is not perfect. It can be misused. It is only a tool. But it is by far the best tool we have, self-correcting, ongoing, applicable to everything. It has two rules. First: there are no sacred truths; all assumptions must be critically examined; arguments from authority are worthless. Second: whatever is inconsistent with the facts must be discarded or revised. ... The obvious is sometimes false; the unexpected is sometimes true.</blockquote>		<blockquote>Science is not perfect. It can be misused. It is only a tool. But it is by far the best tool we have, self-correcting, ongoing, applicable to everything. It has two rules.
			'''First''': there are no sacred truths; all assumptions must be critically examined; arguments from authority are worthless.
			'''Second''': whatever is inconsistent with the facts must be discarded or revised. ... The obvious is sometimes false; the unexpected is sometimes true.</blockquote>

	If only we had more men and women like that, how much better place the world would be.<br/>		If only we had more men and women like that, how much better place the world would be. All ideas should be able to be uttered, all theories challenged, all data questioned. Science is not consensus, and the better ideas will win out, and scientist and engineers can be relied upon to see the data and draw the logical, rational conclusions.<br/>

	= Comos (1980) - Carl Sagan =		= Comos (1980) - Carl Sagan =

Bferrell at 23:12, 29 March 2019

2019-03-29T23:12:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:12, 29 March 2019
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	As I mentioned on the main [[Astronomy\| Astronomy]] page, I like this very much, and would recommend it as a good introduction to the history of astronomy and of the history of the universe. I find it holds up pretty well to the 40 years since it’s release, and the edition I got from the library was the 20th anniversary extended edition with updates at the end of most episodes.		As I mentioned on the main [[Astronomy\| Astronomy]] page, I like this very much, and would recommend it as a good introduction to the history of astronomy and of the history of the universe. I find it holds up pretty well to the 40 years since it’s release, and the edition I got from the library was the 20th anniversary extended edition with updates at the end of most episodes.

			I will say, as I have rewatched the series (including the "Updates") and the 2014 remake, I think I can appreciate Carl Sagan better than I ever did before. I've read his wiki and watched some tributes to him, and watching the orginal series I was struck, for the second time, by the beauty of his devotion to the scientific method, in heart and principle. When I look at some of the "Update" segments, I felt he betrayed these ideals, just a little. Maybe that's not fair, it is possible that some of the informaiton about the manipulation of climate data and shouting down of contrary, unpopular opinions was not as developed as it is today. However, I thought I detected his thinking had hardened and he was becoming an advocate rather than simply a Scientist, a pursuer of truth.

			When I look at his students, such as Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Nye, I see what I believe his colleagues at Harvard were afraid of, and why they pushed the College to deny him tenure. I read that many of them regretted that later, and could see how his popularization of Science was a good for the practice of Science, and indeed for the Country, and maybe the World. But the fear was that he was a self-promoter, stealing others ideas, and driving an agenda. I believe that is what we see now, that Scientist attempt to drive funding decisions by government and educational institutions to support the causes and believes they have. This is anathema to science, which should be the pursuit of truth. I believe young Carl was immune to this, a true idealog for the pursuit of truth. But it is hard, and the longer you live within a community that believes the way you do, and the more you are adored, the stronger the pull to use your popularity. This is what young Carl said, and I why I found him so compelling...

			<blockquote>Science is not perfect. It can be misused. It is only a tool. But it is by far the best tool we have, self-correcting, ongoing, applicable to everything. It has two rules. First: there are no sacred truths; all assumptions must be critically examined; arguments from authority are worthless. Second: whatever is inconsistent with the facts must be discarded or revised. ... The obvious is sometimes false; the unexpected is sometimes true.</blockquote>

			If only we had more men and women like that, how much better place the world would be.<br/>

	= Comos (1980) - Carl Sagan =		= Comos (1980) - Carl Sagan =

Bferrell at 01:16, 29 March 2019

2019-03-29T01:16:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:16, 28 March 2019
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	[[Image:Comso_1980.jpg\|right]]		[[Image:Comso_1980.jpg\|right]]

	As I mentioned on the main [[~~The_Great_Courses~~\|~~The Great Courses~~]] page, I like this very much, and would recommend it as a good introduction to the history of astronomy and of the history of the universe. I find it holds up pretty well to the 40 years since it’s release, and the edition I got from the library was the 20th anniversary extended edition with updates at the end of most episodes.		As I mentioned on the main [[Astronomy\| Astronomy]] page, I like this very much, and would recommend it as a good introduction to the history of astronomy and of the history of the universe. I find it holds up pretty well to the 40 years since it’s release, and the edition I got from the library was the 20th anniversary extended edition with updates at the end of most episodes.

	= Comos (1980) - Carl Sagan =		= Comos (1980) - Carl Sagan =

Bferrell: /* Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? 100px */

2019-03-28T02:09:56Z

Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? 100px

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:09, 27 March 2019
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	</br>		</br>

	== Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==		== Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? [[Image:2.5-stars.png\|100px]] ==
	[[Image:Cosmos1980_e13.jpg\|left]] The series finale starts with a telling of the meeting of the Tlingit people of Alaska by Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, a Frenchman.		[[Image:Cosmos1980_e13.jpg\|left]] The series finale starts with a telling of the meeting of the Tlingit people of Alaska by Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, a Frenchman. He then wanders through a rather preachy anti-nuke commentary that doesn’t hold up very well.
	</br>		</br>

	<blockquote>''Carl Sagan considers the significance of science and discuss the importance of human survival in the nuclear age.''</blockquote>		<blockquote>''Carl Sagan considers the significance of science and discuss the importance of human survival in the nuclear age.''</blockquote>
	</br>		</br>

Bferrell: /* Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? 100px */

2019-03-28T02:08:21Z

Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? 100px

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:08, 27 March 2019
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	== Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==		== Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==
	[[Image:Cosmos1980_e13.jpg\|left]] The series finale starts with a telling of the meeting of the ~~Tungit~~ people of Alaska.		[[Image:Cosmos1980_e13.jpg\|left]] The series finale starts with a telling of the meeting of the Tlingit people of Alaska by Jean François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse, a Frenchman.
	</br>		</br>

	<blockquote>''Carl Sagan considers the significance of science and discuss the importance of human survival in the nuclear age.''</blockquote>		<blockquote>''Carl Sagan considers the significance of science and discuss the importance of human survival in the nuclear age.''</blockquote>
	</br>		</br>

Bferrell: /* Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? 100px */

2019-03-28T02:04:19Z

Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? 100px

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:04, 27 March 2019
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	== Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==		== Episode 13 Who Speaks for Earth? [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==
	[[Image:Cosmos1980_e13.jpg\|left]]		[[Image:Cosmos1980_e13.jpg\|left]] The series finale starts with a telling of the meeting of the Tungit people of Alaska.
	</br>		</br>

	<blockquote>''Carl Sagan considers the significance of science and discuss the importance of human survival in the nuclear age.''</blockquote>		<blockquote>''Carl Sagan considers the significance of science and discuss the importance of human survival in the nuclear age.''</blockquote>
	</br>		</br>

Bferrell: /* Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica 100px */

2019-03-27T23:27:28Z

Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica 100px

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:27, 27 March 2019
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	== Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==		== Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==
	[[Image:Cosmos1980_e12.jpg\|left]] A good episode, that starts off with a discussion of UFOs, in particularly the Betty and Barney Hill case. Sagan then segues to the deciphering of the Egyptian hieroglyphs by Jean-François Champollion. This is all interesting, but is the history of learning about a different civilization and not astronomy, so not my very favorite. He does extrapolate from this to a message from another world, which was interesting.		[[Image:Cosmos1980_e12.jpg\|left]] A good episode, that starts off with a discussion of UFOs, in particularly the Betty and Barney Hill case. Sagan then segues to the deciphering of the Egyptian hieroglyphs by Jean-François Champollion. This is all interesting, but is the history of learning about a different civilization and not astronomy, so not my very favorite. He does extrapolate from this to a message from another world, which was interesting. He then moves on to a description of the Drake equation, and the likelihood of there being intelligent life on other worlds.
	</br>		</br>

Bferrell: /* Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica 100px */

2019-03-27T23:23:11Z

Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica 100px

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:23, 27 March 2019
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	== Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==		== Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==
	[[Image:Cosmos1980_e12.jpg\|left]] A good episode, that starts off with a discussion of UFOs, in particularly the Betty and Barney Hill case. Sagan then segues to the deciphering of the Egyptian hieroglyphs by Jean-François Champollion. This is all interesting, but is the history of learning about a different civilization and not astronomy, so not my very favorite.		[[Image:Cosmos1980_e12.jpg\|left]] A good episode, that starts off with a discussion of UFOs, in particularly the Betty and Barney Hill case. Sagan then segues to the deciphering of the Egyptian hieroglyphs by Jean-François Champollion. This is all interesting, but is the history of learning about a different civilization and not astronomy, so not my very favorite. He does extrapolate from this to a message from another world, which was interesting.
	</br>		</br>

Bferrell: /* Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica 100px */

2019-03-27T23:19:42Z

Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica 100px

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:19, 27 March 2019
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	== Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==		== Episode 12 Encyclopaedia Galactica [[Image:3-stars.png\|100px]] ==
	[[Image:Cosmos1980_e12.jpg\|left]] A good episode, that starts off with a discussion of UFOs, in particularly the Betty and Barney Hill case. Sagan then segues to the deciphering of the Egyptian hieroglyphs by Jean-François Champollion.		[[Image:Cosmos1980_e12.jpg\|left]] A good episode, that starts off with a discussion of UFOs, in particularly the Betty and Barney Hill case. Sagan then segues to the deciphering of the Egyptian hieroglyphs by Jean-François Champollion. This is all interesting, but is the history of learning about a different civilization and not astronomy, so not my very favorite.
	</br>		</br>