The Humility Of Science

One night when I was in my terrible twos, my parents wanted a much needed night on the town and had arranged for my grandparents to take care of me, but I wasn’t having any of that because I was heartbroken over a missing L.  Sesame Street and The Electric Company had me in their spell back then—so much so that my favorite toys were plastic letters.  Scrambling them and unscrambling them into words—well, for me, that was the Superbowl, World Series and NBA Finals all rolled into one.  And to my toddler brain, a missing letter was a tragedy of unparalleled proportions because it cut down on the number of words I could make.  So there I was crying hysterically and my parents were trying to explain that it might be lost now but we could find it later, or maybe go out and buy a new one tomorrow, but no, not tonight because the stores are all closed.  I was inconsolable.  Instead of saying “enough is enough” or letting it be my mother or my grandparents’ problem, my poor dad spent twenty minutes scouring the house for this plastic letter, eventually getting down on his hands and knees to find the L behind the radiator.   Triumphantly, he brought it to me.  “Look, Nick, I found the L.”  So I paused in mid-cry to see what he’d done and exclaimed, “That’s an orange L!  I wanted a purple L!”

Reflecting back on that story, I’m struck by his kindness and empathy.  He took the time to see things from my perspective, unreasonable two year old though I was, and unselfishly helped me because he knew how important that letter was to me.  There was nothing pretentious about him.  He had a scientist’s humility.

Yesterday, I received a cold call from a woman wanting to “clean up Hollywood,” reaching out to people at random to complain that the industry puts out so few G rated movies compared to years ago, and how television is subjecting young people to entertainment that fails to promote family values.   She wasn’t in favor of censorship, she claimed, but she was part of an action group that wanted to put pressure on the industry and “tighten up the rating system.”  Now that’s an interesting issue to me, and I happen to be on the other side of it, so I politely countered that parents should simply monitor the entertainment their children are watching, and what exactly do you consider “family values?”  What offends one person may not offend another.   I had the sense she was following a script, because every time I’d answer one of her questions, she’d not quite address what I was saying and would instead move on to her next talking point.  Ultimately, she realized I wasn’t inclined to support her cause, and mumbled a “thank you for your time” before hanging up.  And I realized that I'd been naive—she wasn’t interested in discussing the issue at all.  She just wanted recruitment.  It’s a shame because a real, open conversation might have left one or both of us with a fresh perspective. 

(As it turns out, I wasn't talking to a live person at all.  Hat Tip: Thanny.)

Since that call, I’ve found myself thinking wistfully about conversations with my dad.  Many times when we were on opposite sides of a social issue, the back and forth would be not only spirited but genuinely productive, with each showing the other a perspective that had not been considered.  He’d make a point, and I could feel my understanding deepen.  It would force me to rethink my position.  To evolve.  I’m sure he moved me from my position more often than I moved him, and yet I remember the times he’d smile in appreciation of something I’d said.  “Ah, that’s a good point,” he’d say, and he’d look at the issue again with a new point of view.  That’s the honesty and humility that comes with science, and I’m struck by how little of it there is in the public discourse today.

There’s a Zen expression: “Enlightenment can come only after humility.”  My father once said:

“In science it often happens that scientists say, ‘You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,’ and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again.  They really do it.  It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful.  But it happens every day.  I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.”

It’s such an important message.  Stand up for what you believe, but don’t be so stubborn that you can’t learn and change from another’s reasoned argument.   So the question I would ask is this: How should we bring the sincerity and openness of science to the rest of our society?  How best to enlighten our leaders and ourselves?

I view the blog-a-thon both as a tribute to the man who led so many of us to science, to skepticism, and to view our universe with a sense of majesty and wonder, and as a call for Carl Sagan fans to come together and exchange ideas in the hopes of making the world a better place.  I’m grateful to Ann Druyan, Joel Schlosberg, Bryan and Dave of the Celebrating Sagan website, and to all of you who take part each year.   Thank you for sharing your memories, your stories of inspiration.   I know my father would be overjoyed.

Comments

[Thanny]

That cold call wouldn't happen to have been from "Cammy", would it?

If so, that's actually a recording. There's an operator pressing buttons to play back certain messages in response to what the person on the phone asks or says, but it's not really a conversation at all.

And at the end, they pitch their product - bowdlerized versions of movies that have "offensive" content.

Of course, if it wasn't "Cammy", you can ignore all that.

[Nick Sagan]

Thank you! You know, that conversation was stilted enough to make me wonder if I was talking to a machine, and after googling the Dove Foundation, I think that's who it was. Ha! I was punked by a recording.

I was enjoying the chance to make a case against sanitizing movies--it's a shame I wasted all that on a machine. Hopefully, the operator heard, but given the circumstances I doubt I was able to make much impact on him/her.

In a way, it's a relief. Here I'd been thinking I was speaking with a soulless human when it turns out she's just a soulless recording. That's better... I think.

[Kepler2]

Clearly this program would never pass the Turing Test.

[Audrey Harper]

Thanks for the post -

It seems as though lately, men like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Dan Dennett and Christopher Hitchens have carried on the torch of skeptical thinking and reason. I think your dad really helped bring these ideas to the forefront during his career, and now the "Four Horsemen" (as they are sometimes referred) are now taking it to a new level, with strength in numbers. What's your opinion on this new atheist movement? I truly admire what they are doing, and I wish that more people would adopt similar positions of unbelief (vs disbelief, which many people have more difficulty accepting.)

Would you ever consider speaking at the annual Atheist Alliance International Conference? I'm sure they'd love to have you. Last year they had a tremendous line-up, including Matthew Chapman, which I thought was pretty cool. I know you call yourself an agnostic, probably because of the unfalsifiable nature of God, but I think a lot of atheists would say "I do not think God exists, due to the lack of evidence" vs "God absolutely does not exist." I don't believe this distinction is being made as it should be, but I know this is the position held by the four horsemen. Any way, this is my attempt to persuade you to attend next year. :)

[J Alan Erwine]

Thanks for sharing this. I always enjoy reading your blogs about your father. I had the opportunity to meet him once when I was 16, and it's a day that I still remember with fondness.

Thanks again.

[Audrey Harper]

happy holidays. :)

[Audrey Harper]

Happy holidays :)

[Mr. Mystery]

Your dad was a rarity among even scientists. Even scientists and researchers, as Carl pointed out, can have their own human biases and agendas, and so the science suffers. And the ramifications expand outward. Look at the tomfoolery surrounding Monsanto and Cornell. Money and career-building are issues to be sure. Carl never got mixed up in anything like that.

BTW, your dad rocked, and I like Beavis & Butthead too. I wish we could have tried to convert him together. I'll be spending Xmas day, celebrating our lard and savior, by watching the new AVP movie. Because you know, there's nothing to say that ET has to be a friendly vegetarian. Ethical reciprocity and technological development need not go hand in hand. We can get into orbit, but we still eat cows and have nukes, right? So I can live with movies about badass aliens as long as we also have ones like "Starman". On that note, I got a call from an ex today, whose mom was the one inflamed by the scene in the movie where Starman brought a deer (who had been killed by hunters) back to life. "Only Jesus could do that!" Yeah, whatever.

Speaking of deer what's with the little deer left up in Ann's study in the old Sphynx building?

Note to Audrey, how did you meet Carl when you were 16? He died when you were 12. Busted! Unless your myspace info is bogus and you're not 23. Busted!

[Seeker]

Dear Nick,

I have been reading your blog regularly but this is the next time I'm commenting on it. Reading your blog has been a ritual for me and I want to thank you for all the happiness you've given to me.

At this time, I want to take the opportunity to give you my heartfelt wishes for Christmas and wish you a great New Year ahead.

May all your dreams come true :-)

--------------------------
My Positivity Blog
http://positivityhub.com/

[Audrey Harper]

Mr. Mystery -

You are referring to a comment made by J Alan... nice job with the creepy stalking of my page though.. but wasted efforts, I'm afraid.

I am indeed 23, and unfortunately was never able to meet him.

[alpha-helix]

Greetings,

Most fathers are a hero in the eyes of their son(s).

I lost my father around the same time that you lost yours, Nick. I always think of them both in December of every year.

I hope you don't mind me saying so, but your Dad was a hero to me as well. I met him once (my father was also there) and it is a memory that I will forever cherish - with two of my heroes.

Thank you for sharing your Dad ..... & your memories with us all.

I miss them both ... but what they both taught me .... lives on & I will pass that on to my own children.

Your Dad, to me,... is like my "father" in the COSMOS. He opened my eyes and I have never looked at the "world" in quite the same way again.

How do you thank somebody properly for that? I really cannot, except for saying "Thanks" and passing it on to others / putting those lessons into action.

All my best, Nick.

[KaiYves]

I had the experience of traveling to Australia for three weeks in the summer. I didn't get to call my family much, and the student group I was in moved a lot. All that seemed permanent was the stars above and the things I carried with me in my backpack. I am pleased to say that one of your father's books was among them. I must have read it three times straight through.
When you're on the other side of the world from home, It's nice to read the words of someone whose mind soared much farther.

[Amanda]

my roommate and i received the same movie/family values phone call (or similar - scary to think there are more than one group of that sort out there) this past summer. i was getting frustrated with the call so i passed it to her and she tried to have a conversation about the definition of family and family values. the person on the other end hung up on her.

i live in canada, and currently our parliament is looking at something called "Bill C10" which would "deny tax credits to Cdn films & tv deemed offensive or not in the public interest," (from a story in planet S - our local left wing paper) it is in my opinion, a distinctly un-canadian thing to do. it is also a sneaky way to censor, because by denying tax credits supposedly "offensive" projects cannot get banks to back them which means they probably don't get made.

anyway, thought you might find that interesting. cheers.

[Some dude]

Just wanted to let you know I have been watching the Cosmos marathon on Sci Fi channel, I remember watching them when they first came out, still as great as I remembered.
Your father was a brilliant man, and apparently very patient with you regarding the purple L incident.