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March 12, 2014

Sagan on Skeptical Science

“Science is more than a body of knowledge, it’s a way of thinking.

A way of skeptically interrogating the universe with a fine understanding of human fallibility. If we are not able to ask skeptical questions, to interrogate those that tell us that something is true, to be skeptical of those in authority, then we’re up for grabs for the next charlatan, political or religious who comes ambling along.” — - Carl Sagan

Posted by gerardvanderleun at March 12, 2014 12:06 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

Another fellow who doesn't take his own advice.

Posted by: james wilson at March 12, 2014 1:34 PM

Being dead, Carl is probably beyond the advice-taking stage.

Posted by: SteveS at March 12, 2014 5:59 PM

Helloooo Michael Mann and the Orcs of 'Global Warming'. And Richard Get Out Of Our Way Branson. Most lack understanding, but those at the top are pitifully pathological.

Posted by: Michael Richards MD at March 12, 2014 8:49 PM

Interesting that Carl Sagan was one of the first of the "science is settled" crowd, as well as going straight to press with his pumped-up "nuclear winter" story, skipping such obstacles as peer review, for example.

Yes, question the authority of the AGW party, by all means.

Posted by: Darkwater at March 13, 2014 12:12 AM

Yeah Carl Sagan. Not a particularly capable scientist, but became sort of its spokesman after doing the Cosmos show and treated as the greatest living scientist by the press.

His quote is good but he didn't mean "be skeptical of the work of scientists" he meant "be skeptical of everything but what scientists say."

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 13, 2014 7:41 AM

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