Story by Madison Burgess
The prediction is full of warnings that some thinks are a little too close to reality.
Sagan was a pioneer in the study of the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
It foretells a world of misinformation and the rise in big tech.
Carl Sagan Eerie 1995 Predictions – Bing video
Back in 1995, the Astronomer Carl Sagan made a prediction of what a future version of America would look like – and some people think it’s disturbingly similar to the world today.
From ‘clutching our crystals’ to ‘awesome technological powers’ being ‘in the hands of very few,’ the scientist’s prediction is full of warnings that some thinks are a little too close to reality.
Sagan was an astronomer, planetary scientist, astrophysicist and more – he was well known as a pioneer in the field of exobiology, which is the study of the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
He helped to assemble the first physical messages sent into space as well as being among the first to determine that life could have existed on Mars. The astronomer constantly appealed to NASA to extend its exploration of the Universe.
As the prediction resurfaces, people are even questioning if Sagan had access to a time machine. The prophecy which describes a dystopian America, came from a passage from his book called, ‘The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark’.
The book explains the scientific method to people
outside of the field and encourages them to learn critical and skeptical thinking.
It has a focus on distinguishing science from pseudoscience, with mentions of witches, UFOs, extrasensory perception (the sixth sense), and faith healing.
Sagan was known for sharing complex scientific views, in an effort to educate the masses – he wanted to have open minds and active imaginations.
The passage that’s got people talking,
foretells a world of misinformation, the rise in big tech and the influential media.
It reads: ‘Science is more than a body of knowledge; it is a way of thinking.
‘I have a foreboding of an America in my children’s or grandchildren’s time—
when the United States is a service and information economy; when nearly all
the key manufacturing industries have slipped away to other countries;
‘when awesome technological powers are in the hands of a very few, and no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues;
‘When the people have lost the ability to set
their own agendas or knowledgeably question those in authority.
‘When, clutching our crystals and nervously consulting our horoscopes, our critical faculties in decline, unable to distinguish between what feels good and what’s true,
we slide, almost without noticing, back into superstition and darkness.
‘The dumbing down of America is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30-second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance.
‘The scarily accurate passage is again circulating around social media, with users shocked at its eerie message’.
Others added ‘Nailed it, unfortunately’ and ‘So ahead of his time’.
One person said ‘Ever-increasingly convinced Carl Sagan just had a time machine’.
Someone called the prediction a ‘chillingly accurate description of the path to decline’
and another said he ‘hit the nail on the head’.
Sadly, Sagan was unable to see whether his prophecy came true as he died
aged 62 in December 1996 -he suffered from a rare bone marrow disease called myelodysplasia. Complications from the disease caused the pneumonia
which ended his life.
Do you think Carl Sagan’s prophecy about the
dumbing down of America has come true or not?
Yes, I think so. 95%
No, I don’t think so. 2%
I’m not sure. 2%
Other / No opinion. 1%
Based on 429 responses. Snapshot of real-time results. Learn More
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