Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
At the extremes it is difficult to distinguish pseudoscience from rigid, doctrinaire religion.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Both pseudoscience and rigid religion can present dogmatic beliefs that are hard to differentiate despite their differing foundations.
Carl Sagan's quote highlights the challenges of distinguishing between pseudoscience and rigid, doctrinaire religion when beliefs become extreme. Both can operate with a set of unyielding ideas that reject empirical evidence and critical thinking, blurring the lines between scientific inquiry and fervent faith.
Themes
PseudoscienceReligionDoctrineBeliefScience
In practice
Example use cases
Discussing the differences between science and religion in a lecture about critical thinking.
More from Carl Sagan
All quotes βIn more than one respect, the exploring of the Solar System and homesteading other worlds constitutes the beginning, much more than the end, of history.
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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.
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The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
Carl SaganRead
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