Carl Sagan - The Heart of Science

[MikeAnn193]

With its central message, clever editing, and stirring music, the part from 5:55 until the end of this clip is for me one of the most moving segments of Cosmos, itself the most moving and life-altering documentary series that I've ever seen. Though first-time viewers may wish for more state of the art video quality and special effects, the information has been updated, and no student of the universe could wish for a more sweeping and thought-provoking look across time and space.

[bishop8000]

@MikeAnn193 It stirs me to tears every time.

[MikeAnn193]

@bishop8000 Me too sometimes... and always goosebumps.

[pab7984]

One more question for you Bishop8000, is this video part of a larger show? Any idea where I can watch or download the rest of it? Thanks.

[bishop8000]

@pab7984 Yes. It's from the PBS series Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. There's nothing in life that I could recommend more highly.

[pab7984]

aaahhh. makes sense, thanks. but surely the 7 planets in our solar system are not the only points of light in the sky that appear to move? But I suppose that there patterns of movement were more dramatic then any others?

[bishop8000]

@pab7984 There are meteors and shootings stars, but those are never seen again. From the perspective of the earth, there's really nothing else in the sky that moves like the planets, the moon, and the sun.

[pab7984]

How did these 17th century astronomers identify our solar system out of all the other stars in the sky? I'm sure it's a stupid question. But when I look up into the night sky I cant really differentiate which 8 tiny lights make up our solar system. How did they figure it out?

[bishop8000]

@pab7984 A very good question. The main way that they knew, was that 7 specific points of light in the night sky were very different from the fixed stars because they moved through the heavens as the days and weeks passed. So, they were named "planets" after the Greek word meaning "wanderers". By the 17th century it had already been worked out that either those planets and the sun were orbiting earth, or we were all orbiting the sun, and that's why planets appeared to move.

[alalelalex]

Watch 'the sunset of the state' watch?v=sLCEXtpTNYU

It shows that a similar situation as with the religion vs science conflict is still happening with the state vs morality conflict.

[WOWJBEOWULF]

Science is investigation of the Universe, but it can be slow at times. Socrates, in Plato's Republic, created the hypothesis that the Sun is a type of stone: over 2,400-years ago the Sun is believed to be a stone, and this belief held until after Albert Einstein's group was able to discuss fission, into the 20th century: Science at its best. The heart of science is truth, of the very thing you measured using a standard & doctrine; only then can it be compared for better truth.

[SteveDude01]

"He preferred the hard truth to his dearest illusions."

If only the rest of humanity thought like Kepler...

[TheClovis2]

focista6 Name calling only makes you look like an idiot.However I have resorted to name calling myself so I understand.

[anjundoobies89]

my inspiration for choosing Science as my major! this man is a visionary, and was a user of the natural substance cannabis. theres no doubt in my mind that he deduced much as a result of that.

[kitchenaut]

''I know of no civilization ever built in all history by atheists like Sagan.''

The soviets weren't like Sagan. The reasons for the purges were politcial, not religious. The soviets actually crippled themselves by holding back science, such as promoting the politically expedient theories of Lysenko over Mendelian genes. By your logic we could put all theists in with those who oversaw the inquisition, witch-burnings and stoning.

[topturkey2]

Religion is a plague on this world.

[morgandude2]

Too right!

[TheClovis2]

I did enjoy your comments and honestly meant no offense to you.I apologize,cellovid. I confess to being at times too passionate about my beliefs. Of course you are not a fool you write very intelligently.And I would be the last person to wish anybody's execution for holding a different set of values, to be honest.

[bishop8000]

I am sorry. Truly. Without a condescending or sarcastic bone in my body, I'm sorry that our civilization has not done better for you.

[cellovid]

Clovis 2! The King returns! Hallowed is this day! After a 1354 year sleep, it's not a minute too soon, Sire. We need your leadership! You, who turned the lovely slave Balthild into a Queen, only to suffer usurpation at the hands of the ignominious Childebert the Adopted (hate!), are a Godsend in this age! Matters are at hand...you have no time for these "crack" and "sleeze" worries, my Liege. You must refocus on "Britney," where your talents will bloom! Great things are afoot!

[TheClovis2]

Oh well now cellovid. I would be more than happy to make you court jester being you are obviously such a fool. And bishop8000, I know of no civilization ever built in all history by atheists like Sagan, except for one. The Soviet Union. And, oh my bad. China of recent times. The land of forced abortions and violation of even basic human rights.

[cellovid]

"The fool thinks himself to be wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool."...William Shakespeare. ....Thanks for the compliment, clovis; I see you enjoyed my post! Thanks also for the unneeded job offer, though it doesn't seem sincere...aren't you a guy who needs an executioner, not a jester? You're just a fascist, born a little out of place and time, clove.

[focista6]

@TheClovis2 idiot.

[csadler]

I feel so humble that I am privileged to know so much. To know our co-ordinates in the universe as it were. And poor Kepler who wanted to know more, lived at the time he did. How lucky we are today. But how much more will we know tomorrow.

Carl you are missed. What a master of communicating science he was.

[morgandude2]

csadler...that was beautifully conveyed!

[omegavalerius]

Lets make sure that each of us who have read or listened to Carl Sagan, carry his ideals in our hearts and try our best to allways act according to them.

peace

[SaganAppreciationSoc]

Good sentiments. I try. And i frequently fail. This past week has been yet another example.

[johnnierah]

what, humans traveling to the moon. was this kepler guy insane. we'll never get to the moon.

carl had such a beautiful simplicity in his teachings.

peace

[raintree810]

carl sagan is the shiz nit

[ILYIAB]

Simply great. We miss you Carl.

[CapeandCowl]

thanks for posting this!