Chapter 4: A Universe Not Made For Us Flashcards
Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 40
Catholic Church’s Stipulations for Galileo
Catholic forced Galileo’s apology and abnegation of said belief
Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 39
Catholic Church’s Renunciation of Galileo
In 1633 the Catholic Church condemned and renounced Galileo’s assertion that earth is neither the center of the universe nor immovable
Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 41
Catholic Church Repudiated?
In 1992 The Catholic Church (Pope John Paul II) repudiated its renunciation of Galileo
Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 36
Resistance towards Experimental Verification
“Extraterrestrial life aside, if self-congratulatory pretensions to centrality have now retreated to such bastions impervious to experiment, then the sequence of scientific battles with human chauvinism would seem to have been, at least largely, won.”
Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 38
Geocentric Error in Explaining “Sun Set”
Be home by sunset?” say the Geo-centrists.
Be home by the time the Earth has rotated enough so as to occult the Sun below the local horizon, say the Helio-centrists
Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 42
Censoring Alternate Views
Censoring alternate views and threatening to torture their proponents betray a lack of faith in the very doctrine and parishioners that are ostensibly being protected. Why were threats and Galileo’s house arrest needed? Cannot truth defend itself in its confrontation with error?
Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 43
Dominance Hierarchy Template for Universe
In many stories, both realms are governed by dominance hierarchies headed by gods or devils. Monotheists speak of king or kings. In every culture we imagine something like our own political system running the universe
Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 46
What do we really want from Religion?
what do we really want from philosophy and religion? Palliatives? Therapy? Comfort? Do we want reassuring fables or an understanding of our actual circumstances?
