Mightier than the Sword

"We've arranged a global civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster."

-Carl Sagan

A Russian immigrant introduces the concept of infinity to his young son, who is enthralled by the realization that "you can always add one more." The small apartment in Brooklyn is barely a step above poverty, but it's sufficient for a cutter in the garment industry and his wife. Fascinated by the possibility of infinite magnitude, a young Carl Sagan begs his father to postpone bedtime long enough for the five-year-old to write, in sequence, all the integers from 1 to 1000; an unusual request for a child. Sagan, however, was not an ordinary child and he would grow into an extraordinary man.

Sagan's parents, though thoroughly uneducated in science themselves, provided their young son with the foundation for what would make him a world-renown scientist and educator when they taught him what it was to marvel at the world. This wide-eyed wonder and contagious enthusiasm was what marked Sagan as endearingly human when so many of his professional colleagues seemed arrogant and condescending. Sagan's appeal to the general public reflected the passion that constituted one of his greatest achievements: making the world of science accessible to everyone.

"In good speaking, should not the mind of the speaker know the truth of the matter about which he is to speak?"

-Plato, Phaedrus

It's easy to conjecture that someone like Carl Sagan came from and educationally-rich childhood of private schooling, inspirational teachers and exposure to the hard sciences. In fact, nothing could be farther from the truth. Sagan himself recalls his early schooling as rote memorization with no encouragement for creativity or speculation. It wasn't until he entered the University of Chicago at the age of 16 that Sagan finally found himself among scholars who shared his passion and awe in the face of nature. Physics, biology, mathematics, chemistry and planetary astronomy all enticed Sagan, and at the age of 22 he began publishing his theories and findings in academic journals. Sagan earned a degree in physics and later a doctorate in astronomy and astrophysics while contributing significantly to many interplanetary NASA missions. He hypothesized that extreme heat on the surface of Venus caused the radio emissions picked up by scientists, and that the light and dark patterns on Mars were caused by fierce wind and dust storms, not by vegetation as was once thought. The theories were upheld by future space missions. Of course, not all of his theories worked out. Some of Sagan's greatest contributions to science were actually outright contradictions of his expectations. He believed strongly in keeping an open mind and allowing the evidence to paint its own conclusion, even if that conclusion directly opposed some of his favorite opinions. This belief demonstrated a humility before science that is far from universal within the research faction. Sagan also used his knowledge and power within the scientific community for the greater good of humanity. He fought valiantly for nuclear disarmament and participated in debates that had world-wide public policy implications. "I've spent a lot of time fighting the American and Russian nuclear arms buildup, nuclear-weapons testing and the "Star Wars" program. Partly I did it because I had some relevant expertise. But I also did it because, if the worst happens, I wanted to have an answer for my children and grandchildren if they ask me, 'What did you do to try and prevent it?'" said Sagan in September of 1996. "The older I get, the more profound I think is my responsibility to the young. They are an aperture into the future." This invaluable understanding of the social responsibility with which the scientifically-minded are endowed propelled Carl Sagan into the public eye, where he would transcend the ranks of great scientists and become a legend.

"A man should be learned in several sciences, and should have a reasonable, philosophical, and in some measure a mathematical head, to be a complete and excellent poet..."

-John Dryden, "Notes and Observations
on the Empress of Morocco," 1674

Hundreds of successful researchers have come and gone, but few have had the ability to communicate with the world the way Sagan could. He had a natural way with words and used electrifying prose to foster comprehension of the intricate information he presented. Sagan's fans also found in him a witty and charismatic personality who would eventually appear on "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" over two dozen times. He was committed to the education of the public, and in them he found an eager audience. Sagan's first major accomplishment in this area came in 1977 with the publication of his first best seller, The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the evolution of human intelligence. The book, a masterful combination of biology, anthropology and psychology, takes a look at what it means to be a thinking, dreaming human. More importantly, it was written in a vivid and colorful language easily understood by the public. As a result, Dragons of Eden won the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction.

Sagan penned nearly 30 books in his lifetime and served as an editor, technical advisor, or contributor to dozens of others. He constantly worked toward his goal of increasing "scientific literacy" and was tireless in his efforts to bring science into every home. Sagan is probably best remembered for the three-time Emmy winning series "Cosmos," which was eventually seen by over 500 million people in 60 countries. First aired in the 1980's, the PBS series exemplified everything that made Carl Sagan a star: accurate information, complex theories and staggering concepts illustrated with incredible literary grace and a truly poetic style. Sagan wrote a forward for a science writing guide in the last months of his life that clearly explains his commitment to education: "A general public understanding of science, warts and all, is essential for at least four reasons: a productive technological economy; an understanding of the environmental and other dangers of technologies old and new; a glimpse of the answers to the deepest questions on the origins of the universe and ourselves; and a grasp of the skeptical method of science, which has essential connections with the democratic process." Indeed, Sagan understood that in a democracy, the only knowledge that will influence public policy decisions and provide a safety blanket against avoidable mistakes is that knowledge which is commanded by the public. Unfortunately, Sagan faced some strong opposition to his hope for bringing science to the public: his peers. Many scientists became hostile and openly resentful of Sagan's attempts to "popularize" science. Some questioned Sagan's methods, saying he was oversimplifying complex issues in order to teach people who didn't have the faculty to understand them anyway. He lost credibility among researchers because, in the world where "publish or perish" is the battle cry, the time and energy he spent packaging science for mass consumption was time taken away from the "pure" pursuits of research and academic publication. Some felt anyone who would appear on TV with Johnny Carson couldn't possibly be a serious-minded scientist at the same time, and therefore must be making a mockery of the institution of research; others probably fell prey to the too-human response of jealousy.

Regardless of the reasons, Sagan faced personal criticism and became, to some degree, a scientific pariah for the sake of millions of people he would never meet. He held his ground, even when his nomination to the very prestigious National Academy of Sciences was black-balled in 1992, an act that outraged supporters of his efforts. Sagan, however, was not dissuaded. He continued his work even after he was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a disease related to leukemia. Writing from his hospital bed throughout two years of chemotherapy, radiation and three separate bone marrow transplants, Sagan pursued his dream.

"Fear of things invisible is the natural seed of that which every one in himself calleth religion."

-Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan

In the waning hours of his life, Carl Sagan worked for the benefit of others. He held fast to his views on education in the face of criticism and scorn from his colleagues. Sagan, a life-long "agnostic awaiting proof," also adhered to his spiritual beliefs throughout the illness that eventually took his life. With death approaching, Sagan didn't demote his pursuit of truth in favor of comfort. "There was no deathbed conversion," said his wife, Ann Druyan. "No appeals to God, no hope for an afterlife, no pretending that he and I, who had been inseparable for 20 years, were not saying goodbye forever." Though it was a sad end to an intriguing life, one can't help but think it was the triumph of Sagan's very essence that granted him such staying power in the hearts of his millions and millions of students. His beliefs aside, Sagan was a model for personal strength and discipline in dealing with adversity. Whether or not an afterlife exists, Carl Sagan deserves a place among the stars.