Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
After I give lectures-on almost any subject-I am often asked, "Do you believe in UFOs?" I'm always struck by how the question is phrased, the suggestion that this is a matter of belief and not evidence. I'm almost never asked, "How good is the evidence that UFOs are alien spaceships?"
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of evidence over personal belief in evaluating claims about UFOs.
Carl Sagan highlights a common tendency to frame questions about UFOs in terms of belief rather than evidence. He points out that instead of inquiring about the proof supporting the existence of UFOs as alien spacecraft, people are more inclined to ask about personal beliefs, which reflects a misunderstanding of how scientific inquiry should be conducted.
Themes
UfoEvidenceBeliefScienceInquiry
In practice
Example use cases
In a science class discussing skepticism and evidence, you might reference this quote to emphasize critical thinking.
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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.
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