quote:"[on Ptolemy] He's got this sort of religious feeling at the limits of his knowledge, and this is a trend that will continue for thousands of years to follow this...[and] this quote I just read to you is Ptolemy invoking intelligent design."
Tyson goes through Ptolemy, Galileo, Newton and other great minds in this history of science and what happened when they reached the limits of their knowledge. He outlines where and how these men reached the limits of their knowledge, and how they pretty regularly invoked the concept of intelligent design and a creator in order to explain it. "Intelligent design is basically a god of the gaps."
He also talks about the religiosity of the population and scientists.
quote:"...As you become more scientific, yes, you're religiosity drops off, but it asymptotes, but not at zero, to some other level."
He also goes through the history of scientific discovery in different parts of the world. He speaks of the period of great discovery in the Islamic world from 800 - 1000 AD, and then how it was cut off and never recovered. Then of Europe during the scientific revolution, and of the USA during this century and how we may be on the edge of a shift, where "revelation replaces investigation."
I love the way Tyson speaks and thinks. He has the same passion that Sagan did, and the same sort of open, genuine interest in the mystery and the humanity in these discoveries and the understanding of our universe.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
I'm such a huge fan of Neil deGrasse Tyson. He used to be a favorite guest of Jon Stewart on the Daily Show, which is where I got my first real exposure. I went out and bought Death by Black Hole and was fascinated. The next semester I took an astronomy class and was even more fascinated. If I was a math-inclined person at all, I would have changed my major to physics, but I'm far more interested in the conceptual parts I guess, rather than the actual math, but man, astronomy is just so cool. I can't believe how much information you can get out of measuring wavelengths in light. My mind was blown on a daily basis in that class.
It must be nearly impossible to not be interested by astronomy and to be infected by the outpouring of enthusiasm that man gives off when talking about astronomy. He's just so excited about it, and so smart, and frames the history of astronomy, and the future, and concepts so perfectly. He's on my top five list of people I want to meet before I die.
I think I just realized that I'm a Neil deGrasse Tyson fanboy, and I never knew it.
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
you're not alone Lyrhawn. Check out his facebook page!
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
I like all the Symphony of Science videos/music mixes.
Seconded.
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
For anyone that enjoyed the above talk, it was from a few years back, and part of a conference called Beyond Belief that was put on by the Salk Institute and The Science Network. It was a collection of mostly scientists, authors, and philosophers all talking about religion and science. Not only did they all give talks, but then panel discussion were also held after. It was interesting to see a room of mostly like minded individuals have such a spirited debate and discussion.
I think it totals roughly 15 hours of video, but I HIGHLY recommend it for anyone interested. It was held two more times as well and you can find the links to the other two conferences through the "Beyond Belief" link on the right hand side of the page I linked to. All three years were very entertaining and engaging(if you're predisposed to liking this sort of thing).
Posted by ricree101 (Member # 7749) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lyrhawn: I'm such a huge fan of Neil deGrasse Tyson. He used to be a favorite guest of Jon Stewart on the Daily Show, which is where I got my first real exposure. I went out and bought Death by Black Hole and was fascinated. The next semester I took an astronomy class and was even more fascinated. If I was a math-inclined person at all, I would have changed my major to physics, but I'm far more interested in the conceptual parts I guess, rather than the actual math, but man, astronomy is just so cool. I can't believe how much information you can get out of measuring wavelengths in light. My mind was blown on a daily basis in that class.
It must be nearly impossible to not be interested by astronomy and to be infected by the outpouring of enthusiasm that man gives off when talking about astronomy. He's just so excited about it, and so smart, and frames the history of astronomy, and the future, and concepts so perfectly. He's on my top five list of people I want to meet before I die.
I think I just realized that I'm a Neil deGrasse Tyson fanboy, and I never knew it.
I'm hooked on this now. Thank you.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
Me too. I think those videos are great! Well, I don't really care for the one with Jane Goodall. People probably think it odd that me, as a Christian Creationist, can appreciate those videos, but I just think that God created science, too.
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
And on the 4th day, GOD said, "LET THERE BE SCIENCE!"
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Silly boy. Laws of science were on day one; science as a study was on day six.
Posted by sarcasticmuppet (Member # 5035) on :
He spoke at BYU a while ago. Way cool.
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
rivka, who was studying science before Adam and Eve where there to do it? That's confusing.
and sarcasticmuppet, I can't believe BYU scored GOD! Way cool. That's some bragging rights there.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Strider: rivka, who was studying science before Adam and Eve where there to do it? That's confusing.
Huh? That's why day six.
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
oh man...my mom would be really disappointed! Don't tell her I said that.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Deal. You don't tell mine lots of things I've said, and I won't tell yours. Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
I'm telling both your moms. Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Strider, I think we can take him.
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
White Whale, have you heard the stereotypes about Jewish mothers? Well they're all true. What you haven't heard about is what lengths the children of these Jewish mothers are willing to go to, to avoid their guilty wrath. Tread lightly...very lightly. Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
Seriously, I've had this on a constant loop since I saw this link. When I'm away from it, I'm humming it to myself.
It's crazy catchy.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
My two-year-old loves it, as do I. I think our favorite part is "that makes me want to grab people in the street and say have you heard this??" or the "billions and billions of stars, billions and billions of specks" part. She also really likes Sagan making whale sounds at the beginning of "A Glorious Dawn."
[ March 09, 2010, 08:34 AM: Message edited by: Katarain ]
Posted by The White Whale (Member # 6594) on :
I wish more catchy songs has such profound statements from such great thinkers.
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