Wonder and Skepticism

by Carl Sagan
from Skeptical Enquirer Volume 19, Issue 1, January-February 1995
1994 Carl Sagan

I was a chil in a !ime of ho"e# I grew u" when !he e$"ec!a!ions for science were %ery high& in !he !hir!ies an for!ies# I wen! !o college in !he early fif!ies, go! my 'h#(# in 19)*# +here was a sense of o"!imism abou! science an !he fu!ure# I ream! of being able !o o science# I grew u" in ,roo-lyn, .ew /or-, an I was a s!ree! -i # I came from a nice nuclear family, bu! I s"en! a lo! of !ime in !he s!ree!s, as -i s i !hen# I -new e%ery bush an he ge, s!ree!ligh! an s!oo" an !hea!er wall for "laying Chinese han ball# ,u! !here was one as"ec! of !ha! en%ironmen! !ha!, for some reason, s!ruc- me as ifferen!, an !ha! was !he s!ars# 0%en wi!h an early be !ime in win!er you coul see !he s!ars# 1ha! were !hey2 +hey weren3! li-e he ges or e%en s!ree!ligh!s4 !hey were ifferen!# So I as-e my frien s wha! !hey were# +hey sai , 5+hey3re ligh!s in !he s-y, -i #5 I coul !ell !hey were ligh!s in !he s-y, bu! !ha! wasn3! an e$"lana!ion# I mean, wha! were !hey2 6i!!le elec!ric bulbs on long blac- wires, so you coul n3! see wha! !hey were hel u" by2 1ha! were !hey2 .o! only coul nobo y !ell me, bu! nobo y e%en ha !he sense !ha! i! was an in!eres!ing 7ues!ion# +hey loo-e a! me funny# I as-e my "aren!s4 I as-e my "aren!s3 frien s4 I as-e o!her a ul!s# .one of !hem -new# 8y mo!her sai !o me, 56oo-, we3%e 9us! go! you a library car # +a-e i!, ge! on !he s!ree!car, go !o !he .ew :!rech! branch of !he .ew /or- 'ublic 6ibrary, ge! ou! a booan fin !he answer#5 +ha! seeme !o me a fan!as!ically cle%er i ea# I ma e !he 9ourney# I as-e !he librarian for a boo- on s!ars# ;I was %ery small4 I can s!ill remember loo-ing u" a! her, an she was si!!ing own#< She was gone a few minu!es, brough! one bac-, an ga%e i! !o me# 0agerly I sa! own an o"ene !he "ages# ,u! i! was abou! Jean =arlow an Clar- >able, I !hin-, a !errible isa""oin!men!# ?n so I wen! bac- !o her, e$"laine ;i! wasn3! easy for me !o o< !ha! !ha! wasn3! wha! I ha in min a! all, !ha! wha! I wan!e was a boo- abou! real s!ars# She !hough! !his was funny, which embarrasse me fur!her# ,u! anyway, she wen! an go! ano!her boo-, !he righ! -in of boo-# I !oo- i! an o"ene i! an slowly !urne !he "ages, un!il I came !o !he answer# I! was in !here# I! was s!unning# +he answer was !ha! !he Sun was a s!ar, e$ce"! %ery far away# +he s!ars were suns4 if you were close !o !hem, !hey woul loo- 9us! li-e our sun# I !rie !o imagine how far away from !he Sun you3 ha%e !o be for i! !o be as im as a s!ar# @f course I i n3! -now !he in%erse s7uare law of ligh! "ro"aga!ion4 I ha n3! a ghos! of a chance of figuring i! ou!# ,u! i! was clear !o me !ha! you3 ha%e !o be %ery far away# Far!her away, "robably, !han .ew Jersey# +he aAAling i ea of a uni%erse %as! beyon imagining swe"! o%er me# I! has s!aye wi!h me e%er since# I sense awe# ?n la!er on ;i! !oo- me se%eral years !o fin !his<, I realiAe !ha! we were

on a "lane! -- a li!!le, non-self-luminous worl going aroun our s!ar# ?n so all !hose o!her s!ars migh! ha%e "lane!s going aroun !hem# If "lane!s, !hen life, in!elligence, o!her ,roo-lyns -- who -new2 +he i%ersi!y of !hose "ossible worl s s!ruc- me# +hey i n3! ha%e !o be e$ac!ly li-e ours, I was sure of i!# I! seeme !he mos! e$ci!ing !hing !o s!u y# I i n3! realiAe !ha! you coul be a "rofessional scien!is!4 I ha !he i ea !ha! I3 ha%e !o be, I on3! -now, a salesman ;my fa!her sai !ha! was be!!er !han !he manufac!uring en of !hings<, an o science on wee-en s an e%enings# I! wasn3! un!il my so"homore year in high school !ha! my biology !eacher re%eale !o me !ha! !here was such a !hing as a "rofessional scien!is!, who go! "ai !o o i!4 so you coul s"en all your !ime learning abou! !he uni%erse# I! was a glorious ay# I!3s been my enormous goo luc- -- I was born a! 9us! !he righ! !ime -- !o ha%e ha , !o some e$!en!, !hose chil hoo ambi!ions sa!isfie # I3%e been in%ol%e in !he e$"lora!ion of !he solar sys!em, in !he mos! amaAing "arallel !o !he science fic!ion of my chil hoo # 1e ac!ually sen s"acecraf! !o o!her worl s# 1e fly by !hem4 we orbi! !hem4 we lan on !hem# 1e esign an con!rol !he robo!s& +ell i! !o ig, an i! igs# +ell i! !o e!ermine !he chemis!ry of a soil sam"le, an i! e!ermines !he chemis!ry# For me !he con!inuum from chil hoo won er an early science fic!ion !o "rofessional reali!y has been almos! seamless# I!3s ne%er been, 5@h, gee, !his is no!hing li-e wha! I ha imagine #5 9us! !he o""osi!e& I!3s e$ac!ly li-e wha! I imagine # ?n so I feel enormously for!una!e# Science is s!ill one of my chief 9oys# +he "o"ulariAa!ion of science !ha! Isaac ?simo% i so well -- !he communica!ion no! 9us! of !he fin ings bu! of !he me!ho s of science -seems !o me as na!ural as brea!hing# ?f!er all, when you3re in lo%e, you wan! !o !ell !he worl # +he i ea !ha! scien!is!s shoul n3! !al- abou! !heir science !o !he "ublic seems !o me biAarre# +here3s ano!her reason I !hin- "o"ulariAing science is im"or!an!, why I !ry !o o i!# I!3s a forebo ing I ha%e -- maybe ill-"lace -- of an ?merica in my chil ren3s genera!ion, or my gran chil ren3s genera!ion, when all !he manufac!uring in us!ries ha%e sli""e away !o o!her coun!ries4 when we3re a ser%ice an informa!ion-"rocessing economy4 when awesome !echnological "owers are in !he han s of a %ery few, an no one re"resen!ing !he "ublic in!eres! e%en gras"s !he issues4 when !he "eo"le ;by 5!he "eo"le5 I mean !he broa "o"ula!ion in a emocracy< ha%e los! !he abili!y !o se! !heir own agen as, or e%en !o -nowle geably 7ues!ion !hose who o se! !he agen as4 when !here is no "rac!ice in 7ues!ioning !hose in au!hori!y4 when, clu!ching our crys!als an religiously consul!ing our horosco"es, our cri!ical facul!ies in s!ee" ecline, unable !o is!inguish be!ween wha!3s !rue an wha! feels goo , we sli e, almos! wi!hou! no!icing, in!o su"ers!i!ion an ar-ness# CSIC@' "lays a some!imes lonely bu! s!ill -- an in !his case !he wor may be righ! -- heroic role in !rying !o coun!er some of !hose !ren s# 1e ha%e a ci%iliAa!ion base on science an !echnology, an we3%e cle%erly arrange !hings so !ha! almos! nobo y un ers!an s science an !echnology# +ha! is as clear a "rescri"!ion for isas!er as you can imagine# 1hile we migh! ge! away wi!h !his combus!ible mi$!ure of ignorance an "ower for a while, sooner or la!er i!3s going !o blow u" in our faces, +he "owers of mo ern !echnology are so formi able !ha! i!3s insufficien! 9us! !o say, 51ell, !hose in charge, I3m sure, are oing a goo 9ob#5 +his is a emocracy, an for us !o ma-e sure !ha! !he "owers of science an !echnology are use "ro"erly an "ru en!ly, we oursel%es mus! un ers!an science an !echnology# 1e mus!

be in%ol%e in !he ecision-ma-ing "rocess# +he "re ic!i%e "owers of some areas, a! leas!, of science are "henomenal# +hey are !he cleares! coun!erargumen! I can imagine !o !hose who say, 5@h, science is si!ua!ional4 science is 9us! !he curren! fashion4 science is !he "romo!ion of !he self-in!eres!s of !hose in "ower#5 Surely !here is some of !ha!# Surely if !here3s any "owerful !ool, !hose in "ower will !ry !o use i!, or e%en mono"oliAe i!# Surely scien!is!s, being "eo"le, grow u" in a socie!y an reflec! !he "re9u ices of !ha! socie!y# =ow coul i! be o!herwise2 Some scien!is!s ha%e been na!ionalis!s4 some ha%e been racis!s4 some ha%e been se$is!s# ,u! !ha! oesn3! un ermine !he %ali i!y of science# I!3s 9us! a conse7uence of being human# So, imagine -- !here are so many areas we coul !hin- of -- imagine you wan! !o -now !he se$ of your unborn chil # +here are se%eral a""roaches# /ou coul , for e$am"le, o wha! !he la!e film s!ar who ?nnie an I a mire grea!ly -- Cary >ran! -- i before he was an ac!or& In a carni%al or fair or consul!ing room, you sus"en a wa!ch or a "lumb bob abo%e !he ab omen of !he e$"ec!an! mo!her4 if i! swings lef!-righ! i!3s a boy, an if i! swings forwar -bac- i!3s a girl# +he me!ho wor-s one !ime in !wo# @f course he was ou! of !here before !he baby was born, so he ne%er hear from cus!omers who com"laine he go! i! wrong# ,eing righ! one chance in !wo -- !ha!3s no! so ba # I!3s be!!er !han, say, Bremlinologis!s use !o o# ,u! if you really wan! !o -now, !hen you go !o amniocen!esis, or !o sonograms4 an !here your chance of being righ! is 99 ou! of 1**# I!3s no! "erfec!, bu! i!3s a whole lo! be!!er !han one ou! of !wo# If you really wan! !o -now, you go !o science# @r su""ose you wan!e !o -now when !he ne$! ecli"se of !he sun is# Science oes some!hing really as!onishing& I! can !ell you a cen!ury in a %ance where !he ecli"se is going !o be on 0ar!h an when, say, !o!ali!y will be, !o !he secon # +hin- of !he "re ic!i%e "ower !his im"lies# +hin- of how much you mus! un ers!an !o be able !o say when an where !here3s going !o be an ecli"se so far in !he fu!ure# @r ;!he same "hysics e$ac!ly< imagine launching a s"acecraf! from 0ar!h, li-e !he Voyager s"acecraf! in 19CC4 1D years la!er Voyager I arri%es a! .e"!une wi!hin 1** -ilome!ers or some!hing of where i! was su""ose !o be no! ha%ing !o use some of !he mi -course correc!ions !ha! were a%ailable4 1D years, 5 billion -ilome!ers, on !arge!E So if you wan! !o really be able !o "re ic! !he fu!ure -- no! in e%ery!hing, bu! in some areas -- !here3s only one regime of human scholarshi", of human claims !o -nowle ge, !ha! really eli%ers !he goo s, an !ha!3s science# Feligions woul gi%e !heir eye!ee!h !o be able !o "re ic! any!hing li-e !ha! well# +hin- of how much mileage !hey woul ma-e if !hey e%er coul o "re ic!ions com"arably unambiguous an "recise# .ow how oes i! wor-2 1hy is i! so successful2 Science has buil!-in error-correc!ing mechanisms -- because science recogniAes !ha! scien!is!s, li-e e%erybo y else, are fallible, !ha! we ma-e mis!a-es, !ha! we3re ri%en by !he same "re9u ices as e%erybo y else# +here are no forbi en 7ues!ions# ?rgumen!s from au!hori!y are wor!hless# Claims mus! be emons!ra!e # ? hommem argumen!s -argumen!s abou! !he "ersonali!y of somebo y who isagrees wi!h you -- are irrele%an!4 !hey can be sleaAeballs an be righ!, an you can be a "illar of !he communi!y an be wrong# If you !a-e a loo- a! science in i!s e%ery ay func!ion, of course you fin !ha! scien!is!s run

!he gamu! of human emo!ions an "ersonali!ies an charac!er an so on# ,u! !here3s one !hing !ha! is really s!ri-ing !o !he ou!si er, an !ha! is !he gaun!le! of cri!icism !ha! is consi ere acce"!able or e%en esirable# +he "oor gra ua!e s!u en! a! his or her 'h#(# oral e$am is sub9ec!e !o a wi!hering crossfire of 7ues!ions !ha! some!imes seem hos!ile or con!em"!uous4 !his from !he "rofessors who ha%e !he can i a!e3s fu!ure in !heir gras"# +he s!u en!s na!urally are ner%ous4 who woul n3! be2 +rue, !hey3%e "re"are for i! for years# ,u! !hey un ers!an !ha! a! !ha! cri!ical momen! !hey really ha%e !o be able !o answer 7ues!ions# So in "re"aring !o efen !heir !heses, !hey mus! an!ici"a!e 7ues!ions4 !hey ha%e !o !hin-, 51here in my !hesis is !here a wea-ness !ha! someone else migh! fin -- because I sure be!!er fin i! before !hey o, because if !hey fin i! an I3m no! "re"are , I3m in ee" !rouble#5 /ou !a-e a loo- a! con!en!ious scien!ific mee!ings# /ou fin uni%ersi!y collo7uia in which !he s"ea-er has har ly go!!en G* secon s in!o "resen!ing wha! she or he is saying, an su enly !here are in!erru"!ions, maybe wi!hering 7ues!ions, from !he au ience# /ou !a-e a loo- a! !he "ublica!ion con%en!ions in which you submi! a scien!ific "a"er !o a 9ournal, an i! goes ou! !o anonymous referees whose 9ob i! is !o !hin-, (i you o any!hing s!u"i 2 If you i n3! o any!hing s!u"i , is !here any!hing in here !ha! is sufficien!ly in!eres!ing !o be "ublishe 2 1ha! are !he eficiencies of !his "a"er2 =as i! been one by anybo y else2 Is !he argumen! a e7ua!e, or shoul you resubmi! !he "a"er af!er you3%e ac!ually emons!ra!e wha! you3re s"ecula!ing on2 ?n so on# ?n i!3s anonymous& /ou on3! -now who your cri!ics are# /ou ha%e !o rely on !he e i!or !o sen i! ou! !o real e$"er!s who are no! o%er!ly malicious# +his is !he e%ery ay e$"ec!a!ion in !he scien!ific communi!y# ?n !hose who on3! e$"ec! i! -- e%en goo scien!is!s who 9us! can3! hol u" un er cri!icism -- ha%e ifficul! careers# 1hy o we "u! u" wi!h i!2 (o we li-e !o be cri!iciAe 2 .o, no scien!is! li-es !o be cri!iciAe # 0%ery scien!is! feels an affec!ion for his or her i eas an scien!ific resul!s# /ou feel "ro!ec!i%e of !hem# ,u! you on3! re"ly !o cri!ics& 51ai! a minu!e, wai! a minu!e4 !his is a really goo i ea# I3m %ery fon of i!# I!3s one you no harm# 'lease on3! a!!ac- i!#5 +ha!3s no! !he way i! goes# +he har bu! 9us! rule is !ha! if !he i eas on3! wor-, you mus! !hrow !hem away# (on3! was!e any neurons on wha! oesn3! wor-# (e%o!e !hose neurons !o new i eas !ha! be!!er e$"lain !he a!a# Vali cri!icism is oing you a fa%or# +here is a rewar s!ruc!ure in science !ha! is %ery in!eres!ing& @ur highes! honors go !o !hose who is"ro%e !he fin ings of !he mos! re%ere among us# So 0ins!ein is re%ere no! 9us! because he ma e so many fun amen!al con!ribu!ions !o science, bu! because he foun an im"erfec!ion in !he fun amen!al con!ribu!ion of Isaac .ew!on# ;Isaac .ew!on was surely !he grea!es! "hysicis! before ?lber! 0ins!ein#< .ow !hin- of wha! o!her areas of human socie!y ha%e such a rewar s!ruc!ure, in which we re%ere !hose who "ro%e !ha! !he fun amen!al oc!rines !ha! we ha%e a o"!e are wrong# +hin- of i! in "oli!ics, or in economics, or in religion4 !hin- of i! in how we organiAe our socie!y# @f!en, i!3s e$ac!ly !he o""osi!e& +here we rewar !hose who reassure us !ha! wha! we3%e been !ol is righ!, !ha! we nee no! concern oursel%es abou! i!# +his ifference, I belie%e, is a! leas! a basic reason why we3%e ma e so much "rogress in science, an so li!!le in some o!her areas# 1e are fallible# 1e canno! e$"ec! !o fois! our wishes on !he uni%erse# So ano!her -ey as"ec! of science is e$"erimen!# Scien!is!s o no! !rus! wha! is in!ui!i%ely ob%ious,

because in!ui!i%ely ob%ious ge!s you nowhere# +ha! !he 0ar!h is fla! was once ob%ious# I mean, really ob%ious4 ob%iousE >o ou! in a fla! fiel an !a-e a loo-& Is i! roun or fla!2 (on3! lis!en !o me4 go "ro%e i! !o yourself +ha! hea%ier bo ies fall fas!er !han ligh! ones was once ob%ious# +ha! bloo -suc-ing leeches cure isease was once ob%ious# +ha! some "eo"le are na!urally an by i%ine righ! sla%es was once ob%ious# +ha! !he 0ar!h is a! !he cen!er of !he uni%erse was once ob%ious# /ou3re s-e"!ical2 >o ou!, !a-e a loo-& S!ars rise in !he eas!, se! in !he wes!4 here we are, s!a!ionary ; o you feel !he 0ar!h whirling2<4 we see !hem going aroun us# 1e are a! !he cen!er4 !hey go aroun us# +he !ru!h may be "uAAling# I! may !a-e some wor- !o gra""le wi!h# I! may be coun!erin!ui!i%e# I! may con!ra ic! ee"ly hel "re9u ices# I! may no! be consonan! wi!h wha! we es"era!ely wan! !o be !rue# ,u! our "references o no! e!ermine wha!3s !rue# 1e ha%e a me!ho , an !ha! me!ho hel"s us !o reach no! absolu!e !ru!h, only asym"!o!ic a""roaches !o !he !ru!h -- ne%er !here, 9us! closer an closer, always fin ing %as! new oceans of un isco%ere "ossibili!ies# Cle%erly esigne e$"erimen!s are !he -ey In !he 19D*s, !here was a inner a! which !he "hysicis! Fober! 1# 1oo was as-e !o res"on !o a !oas!# +his was a !ime when "eo"le s!oo u", ma e a !oas!, an !hen selec!e someone !o res"on # .obo y -new wha! !oas! !hey3 be as-e !o re"ly !o, so i! was a challenge for !he 7uic--wi!!e # In !his case !he !oas! was& 5+o "hysics an me!a"hysics#5 .ow by me!a"hysics was mean! some!hing li-e "hiloso"hy -- !ru!hs !ha! you coul ge! !o 9us! by !hin-ing abou! !hem# 1oo !oo- a secon , glance abou! him, an answere along !hese lines& +he "hysicis! has an i ea, he sai # +he more he !hin-s i! !hrough, !he more sense i! ma-es !o him# =e goes !o !he scien!ific li!era!ure, an !he more he rea s, !he more "romising !he i ea seems# +hus "re"are , he e%ises an e$"erimen! !o !es! !he i ea# +he e$"erimen! is "ains!a-ing# 8any "ossibili!ies are elimina!e or !a-en in!o accoun!4 !he accuracy of !he measuremen! is refine # ?! !he en of all !his wor-, !he e$"erimen! is com"le!e an ### !he i ea is shown !o be wor!hless# +he "hysicis! !hen iscar s !he i ea, frees his min ;as I was saying a momen! ago< from !he clu!!er of error, an mo%es on !o some!hing else# +he ifference be!ween "hysics an me!a"hysics, 1oo conclu e , is !ha! !he me!a"hysicis! has no labora!ory# 1hy is i! so im"or!an! !o ha%e wi ely is!ribu!e un ers!an ing of science an !echnology2 For one !hing, i!3s !he gol en roa ou! of "o%er!y for e%elo"ing na!ions# ?n e%elo"ing na!ions un ers!an !ha!, because you ha%e only !o loo- a! mo ern ?merican gra ua!e schools -- in ma!hema!ics, in engineering, in "hysics -- !o fin , in case af!er case, !ha! more !han half !he s!u en!s are from o!her coun!ries# +his is some!hing ?merica is oing for !he worl # ,u! i! con%eys a clear sense !ha! !he e%elo"ing na!ions un ers!an wha! is essen!ial for !heir fu!ure# 1ha! worries me is !ha! ?mericans may no! be e7ually clear on !he sub9ec!# 6e! me !ouch on !he angers of !echnology# ?lmos! e%ery as!ronau! who has %isi!e 0ar!h orbi! has ma e !his "oin!& I was u" !here, !hey say, an I loo-e !owar !he horiAon, an !here was !his !hin, blue ban !ha!3s !he 0ar!h3s a!mos"here# I ha been !ol we li%e in an ocean of air# ,u! !here i! was, so fragile, such a elica!e blue& I was worrie for i!# In fac!, !he !hic-ness of !he 0ar!h3s a!mos"here, com"are wi!h !he siAe of !he 0ar!h, is in

abou! !he same ra!io as !he !hic-ness of a coa! of shellac on a schoolroom globe is !o !he iame!er of !he globe# +ha!3s !he air !ha! nur!ures us an almos! all o!her life on 0ar!h, !ha! "ro!ec!s us from ea ly ul!ra%iole! ligh! from !he sun, !ha! !hrough !he greenhouse effec! brings !he surface !em"era!ure abo%e !he freeAing "oin!# ;1i!hou! !he greenhouse effec!, !he en!ire 0ar!h woul "lunge below !he freeAing "oin! of wa!er an we3 all be ea #< .ow !ha! a!mos"here, so !hin an fragile, is un er assaul! by our !echnology# 1e are "um"ing all -in s of s!uff in!o i!# /ou -now abou! !he concern !ha! chlorofluorocarbons are e"le!ing !he oAone layer4 an !ha! carbon io$i e an me!hane an o!her greenhouse gases are "ro ucing global warming, a s!ea y !ren ami s! fluc!ua!ions "ro uce by %olcanic eru"!ions an o!her sources# 1ho -nows wha! o!her challenges we are "osing !o !his %ulnerable layer of air !ha! we ha%en3! been wise enough !o foresee2 +he ina %er!en! si e effec!s of !echnology can challenge !he en%ironmen! on which our %ery li%es e"en # +ha! means !ha! we mus! un ers!an science an !echnology4 we mus! an!ici"a!e long-!erm conse7uences in a %ery cle%er way -- no! 9us! !he bo!!om line on !he "rofi!-an -loss column for !he cor"ora!ion for !his year, bu! !he conse7uences for !he na!ion an !he s"ecies 1*, D*, 5*, 1** years in !he fu!ure# If we absolu!ely s!o" all chlorofluorocarbon an allie chemical "ro uc!ion righ! now ;as we3re in fac! oing<, !he oAonos"here will heal i!self in abou! a hun re years# +herefore our chil ren, our gran chil ren, our grea!-gran chil ren mus! suffer !hrough !he mis!a-es !ha! we3%e ma e# +ha!3s a secon reason for science e uca!ion& !he angers of !echnology# 1e mus! un ers!an !hem be!!er# ? !hir reason& origins# 0%ery human cul!ure has e%o!e some of i!s in!ellec!ual, moral, an ma!erial resources !o !rying !o un ers!an where e%ery!hing comes from -- our na!ion, our s"ecies, our "lane!, our s!ar, our gala$y, our uni%erse# S!o" someone on !he s!ree! an as- abou! i!# /ou will no! fin many "eo"le who ne%er !hough! abou! i!, who are incurious abou! !heir ul!ima!e origins# I hol !here3s a -in of >resham3s 6aw !ha! a""lies in !he confron!a!ion of science an "seu oscience& In !he "o"ular imagina!ion, a! leas!, !he ba science ri%es ou! !he goo # 1ha! I mean is !his& If you are awash in los! con!inen!s an channeling an :F@s an all !he long li!any of claims so well e$"ose in !he Skeptical Inquirer, you may no! ha%e in!ellec!ual room for !he fin ings of science# /ou3re sa!e wi!h won er# @ur cul!ure in one way "ro uces !he fan!as!ic fin ings of science, an !hen in ano!her way cu!s !hem off before !hey reach !he a%erage "erson# So "eo"le who are curious, in!elligen!, e ica!e !o un ers!an ing !he worl , may ne%er!heless be ;in our %iew< enmire in su"ers!i!ion an "seu oscience# /ou coul say, 1ell, !hey ough! !o -now be!!er, !hey ough! !o be more cri!ical, an so on4 bu! !ha!3s !oo harsh# I!3s no! %ery much !heir faul!, I say# I!3s !he faul! of a socie!y !ha! "referen!ially "ro"aga!es !he baloney an hol s bac- !he ambrosia# +he leas! effec!i%e way for s-e"!ics !o ge! !he a!!en!ion of !hese brigh!, curious, in!eres!e "eo"le is !o beli!!le, or con escen , or show arrogance !owar !heir beliefs# +hey may be cre ulous, bu! !hey3re no! s!u"i # If we bear in min human frail!y an fallibili!y, we will un ers!an !heir "ligh!# For e$am"le& I3%e la!ely been !hin-ing abou! alien ab uc!ions, an false claims of chil hoo se$ual abuse, an s!ories of sa!anic ri!ual abuse in !he con!e$! of reco%ere memories# +here are in!eres!ing similari!ies among !hose classes of cases# I !hin- if we

are !o un ers!an any of !hem, we mus! un ers!an all of !hem# ,u! !here3s a ma ening !en ency of !he s-e"!ics, when a ressing in%en!e s!ories of chil hoo se$ual abuse, !o forge! !ha! real an a""alling abuse ha""ens# I! is no! !rue !ha! all !hese claims of chil hoo se$ual abuse are silly an "um"e u" by une!hical !hera"is!s# /es!er ay3s "a"er re"or!e !ha! a sur%ey of 1G s!a!es foun !ha! one-si$!h of all !he ra"e %ic!ims re"or!e !o "olice are un er !he age of 1D# ?n !his is a ca!egory of ra"e !ha! is "referen!ially un erre"or!e !o "olice, for ob%ious reasons# @f !hese girls, one-fif!h were ra"e by !heir fa!hers# +ha!3s a lo! of "eo"le, an a lo! of be!rayal# 1e mus! bear !ha! in min when we consi er "a!ien!s who, say, because !hey ha%e an ea!ing isor er, ha%e su""resse chil hoo se$ual abuse iagnose by !heir "sychia!ris!s# 'eo"le are no! s!u"i # +hey belie%e !hings for reasons# 6e! us no! ismiss "seu oscience or e%en su"ers!i!ion wi!h con!em"!# In !he nine!een!h cen!ury i! was me iums& /ou3 go !o !he seance, an you3 be "u! in !ouch wi!h ea rela!i%es# +hese ays i!3s a li!!le ifferen!4 i!3s calle channeling# 1ha! bo!h are basically abou! is !he human fear of ying# I on3! -now abou! you4 I fin !he i ea of ying un"leasan!# If I ha a choice, a! leas! for a while, I woul 9us! as soon no! ie# +wice in my life I came %ery close !o oing so# ;I i no! ha%e a near- ea!h e$"erience, I3m sorry !o say#< I can un ers!an an$ie!y abou! ying# ?bou! 14 years ago bo!h my "aren!s ie # 1e ha a %ery goo rela!ionshi"# I was %ery close !o !hem# I s!ill miss !hem !erribly# I woul n3! as- much& I woul li-e fi%e minu!es a year wi!h !hem4 !o !ell !hem how !heir -i s an !heir gran chil ren are oing, an how ?nnie an I are oing# I -now i! soun s s!u"i , bu! I3 li-e !o as- !hem, 5Is e%ery!hing all righ! wi!h you25 Jus! a li!!le con!ac!# So I on3! guffaw a! women who go !o !heir husban s3 !ombs!ones an cha! !hem u" e%ery now an !hen# +ha!3s no! har !o un ers!an # ?n if we ha%e ifficul!ies on !he on!ological s!a!us of who i! is !hey3re !al-ing !o, !ha!3s all righ!# +ha!3s no! wha! !his is abou!# +his is humans being human# In !he alien-ab uc!ion con!e$!, I3%e been !rying !o un ers!an !he fac! !ha! humans hallucina!e !ha! i!3s a human common"lace yes, un er con i!ions of sensory e"ri%a!ion or rugs or e"ri%al of F08 slee", bu! also 9us! in !he or inary course of e$is!ence# I ha%e, maybe a oAen !imes since my "aren!s ie , hear one of !hem say my name& 9us! !he single wor , 5Carl#5 I miss !hem, !hey calle me by my firs! name so much uring !he !ime !hey were ali%e4 I was in !he "rac!ice of res"on ing ins!an!ly when I was calle 4 i! has ee" "sychic roo!s# So my brain "lays i! bac- e%ery now an !hen# +his oesn3! sur"rise me a! all4 I sor! of li-e i!# ,u! i!3s a hallucina!ion# If I were a li!!le less s-e"!ical, !hough, I coul see how easy i! woul be !o say, 5+hey3re aroun somewhere# I can hear !hem#5 Faymon 8oo y, who is an 8#(#, I !hin-, an au!hor who wri!es innumerable boo-s on life af!er ea!h, ac!ually 7uo!e me in !he firs! cha"!er of his la!es! boo-, saying !ha! I hear my "aren!s calling me Carl, an so, loo-, e%en he belie%es in life af!er ea!h# +his ba ly misses my "oin!# If !his is one of !he argumen!s from cha"!er I of !he la!es! boo- of a "rinci"al e$"onen! of life af!er ea!h, I sus"ec! !ha! es"i!e our mos! fer%en! wishes, !he case is wea-# ,u! s!ill, su""ose I wasn3! s!ee"e in !he %ir!ues of scien!ific s-e"!icism an fel! as I o abou! my "aren!s, an along comes someone who says, 5I can "u! you in !ouch wi!h

!hem#5 Su""ose he3s cle%er, an foun ou! some!hing abou! my "aren!s in !he "as!, an is goo a! fa-ing %oices, an so on -- a ar-ene room an incense an all of !ha!# I coul see being swe"! away emo!ionally# 1oul you !hin- less of me if I fell for i!2 Imagine I was ne%er e uca!e abou! s-e"!icism, ha no i ea !ha! i!3s a %ir!ue, bu! ins!ea belie%e !ha! i! was grum"y an nega!i%e an re9ec!ing of e%ery!hing !ha!3s humane# Coul n3! you un ers!an my o"enness !o being conne by a me ium or a channeler2 +he chief eficiency I see in !he s-e"!ical mo%emen! is i!s "olariAa!ion& :s %s# +hem -!he sense !ha! we ha%e a mono"oly on !he !ru!h4 !ha! !hose o!her "eo"le who belie%e in all !hese s!u"i oc!rines are morons4 !ha! if you3re sensible, you3ll lis!en !o us4 an if no!, !o hell wi!h you# +his is noncons!ruc!i%e# I! oes no! ge! our message across# I! con emns us !o "ermanen! minori!y s!a!us# 1hereas, an a""roach !ha! from !he beginning ac-nowle ges !he human roo!s of "seu oscience an su"ers!i!ion, !ha! recogniAes !ha! !he socie!y has arrange !hings so !ha! s-e"!icism is no! well !augh!, migh! be much more wi ely acce"!e #H
H If s-e"!ical habi!s of !hough! are wi ely is!ribu!e an "riAe , !hen who is !he s-e"!icism going !o be mainly a""lie !o2 +o !hose in "ower# +hose in "ower, !herefore, o no! ha%e a %es!e in!eres! in e%erybo y being able !o as- searching 7ues!ions#

If we un ers!an !his, !hen of course we ha%e com"assion for !he ab uc!ees an !hose who come u"on cro" circles an belie%e !hey3re su"erna!ural, or a! leas! of e$!ra!erres!rial manufac!ure# +his is -ey !o ma-ing science an !he scien!ific me!ho more a!!rac!i%e, es"ecially !o !he young, because i!3s a ba!!le for !he fu!ure# Science in%ol%es a seemingly self-con!ra ic!ory mi$ of a!!i!u es& @n !he one han i! re7uires an almos! com"le!e o"enness !o all i eas, no ma!!er how biAarre an weir !hey soun , a "ro"ensi!y !o won er# ?s I wal- along, my !ime slows own4 I shrin- in !he irec!ion of mo!ion, an I ge! more massi%e# +ha!3s craAyE @n !he scale of !he %ery small, !he molecule can be in !his "osi!ion, in !ha! "osi!ion, bu! i! is "rohibi!e from being in any in!erme ia!e "osi!ion# +ha!3s wil E ,u! !he firs! is a s!a!emen! of s"ecial rela!i%i!y, an !he secon is a conse7uence of 7uan!um mechanics# 6i-e i! or no!, !ha!3s !he way !he worl is# If you insis! !ha! i!3s ri iculous, you will be fore%er close !o !he ma9or fin ings of science# ,u! a! !he same !ime, science re7uires !he mos! %igorous an uncom"romising s-e"!icism, because !he %as! ma9ori!y of i eas are sim"ly wrong, an !he only way you can is!inguish !he righ! from !he wrong, !he whea! from !he chaff, is by cri!ical e$"erimen! an analysis# +oo much o"enness an you acce"! e%ery no!ion, i ea, an hy"o!hesis -- which is !an!amoun! !o -nowing no!hing# +oo much s-e"!icism -- es"eciallyI ally re9ec!ion of new i eas before !hey are a e7ua!ely !es!e -- an you3re no! only un"leasan!ly grum"y, bu! also close !o !he a %ance of science# ? 9u icious mi$ is wha! we nee # I!3s no fun, as I sai a! !he beginning, !o be on !he recei%ing en of s-e"!ical 7ues!ioning# ,u! i!3s !he affor able "rice we "ay for ha%ing !he benefi!s of so "owerful a !ool as science#