The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God“Ann Druyan has unearthed a treasure. It is a treasure of reason, compassion, and scientific awe. It should be the next book you read.” —Sam Harris, author of The End of Faith “A stunningly valuable legacy left to all of us by a great human being. I miss him so.” —Kurt Vonnegut Carl Sagan's prophetic vision of the tragic resurgence of fundamentalism and the hope-filled potential of the next great development in human spirituality The late great astronomer and astrophysicist describes his personal search to understand the nature of the sacred in the vastness of the cosmos. Exhibiting a breadth of intellect nothing short of astounding, Sagan presents his views on a wide range of topics, including the likelihood of intelligent life on other planets, creationism and so-called intelligent design, and a new concept of science as "informed worship." Originally presented at the centennial celebration of the famous Gifford Lectures in Scotland in 1985 but never published, this book offers a unique encounter with one of the most remarkable minds of the twentieth century. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 31
Page xiv
... course of them , he touches on several themes that he had written about elsewhere ; however , what follows is the definitive statement of what he took pains to stress were only his personal views on this endlessly fascinating subject ...
... course of them , he touches on several themes that he had written about elsewhere ; however , what follows is the definitive statement of what he took pains to stress were only his personal views on this endlessly fascinating subject ...
Page 1
... course between the precipice of godlessness and the marsh of superstition . • Plutarch • · ertainly both extremes are to be avoided , except what are Ceny they ? What is godlessness ? Does not the concern to avoid the " precipice of ...
... course between the precipice of godlessness and the marsh of superstition . • Plutarch • · ertainly both extremes are to be avoided , except what are Ceny they ? What is godlessness ? Does not the concern to avoid the " precipice of ...
Page 11
... a trillion , or 1012 , a one followed by twelve zeros , of which Earth represents just one , all in the fam- ily of the Sun. And our star , of course , is one of a vast multitude . Here Thomas Wright has made a leap or two , 11.
... a trillion , or 1012 , a one followed by twelve zeros , of which Earth represents just one , all in the fam- ily of the Sun. And our star , of course , is one of a vast multitude . Here Thomas Wright has made a leap or two , 11.
Page 19
... course of its evolution , it has expelled its outer layers in a kind of bubble of expanding gas , mainly hydrogen . Stars do this episodically , pos- sibly periodically , and when they do , grave problems are posed for any planets that ...
... course of its evolution , it has expelled its outer layers in a kind of bubble of expanding gas , mainly hydrogen . Stars do this episodically , pos- sibly periodically , and when they do , grave problems are posed for any planets that ...
Page 24
... very unremarkable , unprepossessing location in this great Milky Way Galaxy . But , of course , it is not the only galaxy . There are many galaxies , a very large number of galaxies . fig . 13 fig . 14 This image is meant 24.
... very unremarkable , unprepossessing location in this great Milky Way Galaxy . But , of course , it is not the only galaxy . There are many galaxies , a very large number of galaxies . fig . 13 fig . 14 This image is meant 24.
Contents
THE ORGANIC UNIVERSE | 63 |
EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE | 103 |
IMPLICATIONS | 125 |
THE GOD HYPOTHESIS | 147 |
THE RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE | 169 |
CRIMES AGAINST CREATION | 191 |
THE SEARCH | 213 |
SELECTED Q A | 223 |
Acknowledgments | 261 |
Index | 275 |
Other editions - View all
The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God Carl Sagan Limited preview - 2006 |
The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God Carl Sagan No preview available - 2007 |
The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A Personal View of the Search for God Carl Sagan No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
apparent argument astronomical believe called century certainly Christian civilization clear clearly comet consider course culture direction don't Earth enormous entire evidence example existence experience extraterrestrial extremely fact Figure galaxy give gods goes hand happen hope human hundred idea imagine intelligence interesting issue it's kind later laws least Lectures less light live look Mars material matter means million mind molecules Moon move nature never nuclear objects orbit organic origin ourselves physics planet possible powerful present produced quantum mechanics question radio reason religion religious remarkable seems sense solar system sort space species stars suggest suppose surely talking tell there's things thousand tion true truth turns understand United universe