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roman_g 's review for:
Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark
by Carl Sagan
A passionate defence of science and the scientific method. Sagan addresses the logical fallacies and minefields littering faith (religious and otherwise) spends a few chapters discussing and debunking the "alien abductions" that have ostensibly been occurring in the US since the 1950s.
He also recognises that scientists are not, by default, "the good guys" and gives examples of how science has been and is used to further military programmes - eg, the development of the hydrogen bomb - actions that definitely are not taken in the spirit of improving humans' wellbeing.
He also recognises that sometimes scientists and sceptics come across as smug and superior - himself included - and seem to belittle those who hold decidedly unscientific beliefs. All in all an excellent book. He could have, IMO, spent some time talking about the pharmaceutical industry and other purely profit-driven organisations employing scientists to fudge test results etc. in the name of greater profit.
If there is one view that I share 100% with Mr Sagan it is that critical thinking classes should be mandatory from kindergarten through to secondary school graduation. (There are actually people who dismiss critical thinking as a trendy and harmful "fad"!) Alas, in the modern education system, where conformity and unquestioning obedience are rewarded and individuality and independent thinking are punished, this is unlikely to happen. But with the Internet available to all, at least in the industrialised world, thinking critically and logically is perhaps easier than it was for previous generations.
He also recognises that scientists are not, by default, "the good guys" and gives examples of how science has been and is used to further military programmes - eg, the development of the hydrogen bomb - actions that definitely are not taken in the spirit of improving humans' wellbeing.
He also recognises that sometimes scientists and sceptics come across as smug and superior - himself included - and seem to belittle those who hold decidedly unscientific beliefs. All in all an excellent book. He could have, IMO, spent some time talking about the pharmaceutical industry and other purely profit-driven organisations employing scientists to fudge test results etc. in the name of greater profit.
If there is one view that I share 100% with Mr Sagan it is that critical thinking classes should be mandatory from kindergarten through to secondary school graduation. (There are actually people who dismiss critical thinking as a trendy and harmful "fad"!) Alas, in the modern education system, where conformity and unquestioning obedience are rewarded and individuality and independent thinking are punished, this is unlikely to happen. But with the Internet available to all, at least in the industrialised world, thinking critically and logically is perhaps easier than it was for previous generations.