Science is a way to not fool ourselves.
Carl SaganRead
The prediction of nuclear winter is drawn not, of course, from any direct experience with the consequences of global nuclear war, but rather from an investigation of the governing physics.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights that the concept of nuclear winter is based on scientific investigation rather than firsthand experience.
Carl Sagan emphasizes that the idea of nuclear winter, which refers to the severe climatic effects following a global nuclear war, is not derived from actual experiences of such events but from a thorough understanding of the underlying physics. This insight serves as a reminder of the need to rely on scientific inquiry to comprehend potential catastrophic outcomes.
Themes
Nuclear WinterScienceGlobal WarClimate ChangePhysics
In practice
Example use cases
In a climate change conference, one could reference this quote to highlight the scientific basis of the consequences of nuclear warfare.
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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How smart does a chimpanzee have to be before killing him constitutes murder?
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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.
Carl SaganRead
The simplest thought, like the concept of the number one, has an elaborate logical underpinning.
Carl SaganRead
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Using e-mail, I can communicate with scientists all over the world.
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The time has come to recognize that food, how we produce it, process it, package it, sell it, cook it and eat it, is as important as any other issue.
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