SI you have a quote here from Carl Sagan. I really enjoyed his 'Cosmos' series. Since someone highlighted a section of his talk here and it fits nicely into the social context that is now unfolding on the earth plain and also the relationship i have for instance with Eric and Kelly (and others also) here on the site. With that being said he also had a one dimensional paradigmatic mind and was unable to see beyond the lens of his empirical mind. Like so many scientists and people he was unwilling to use his observational abilities to expand his outlook. In many relationships as well as social issues confronting humanity there are many levels of understanding and functioning. Many people see thru the optics of their own mindsets, failing to see that this earth existence we experience and our relations with the people on it do not comfortably fit into the biased views of others. Anyone can observe astrology, crystals or even two individuals and 'think' they understand the dynamics and the conflicts they have with one another failing to take into account the incredible similarities and symbiosis taking place between those people on another level that keeps them twin souls from one life to another. So, in fact the 'critical faculties in decline' that Carl Sagan expresses here can be a barrier and obstacle to seeing and understanding in a wider and more encompassing view that actually speaks of the true realty of what is happening to our civilization and the working of for instance two individuals in their current karmic interplay.
He liked his science, can't blame him. Especially when this world is full of fakes. But we don't need to speculate what was really in his deepest thoughts, because we don't know. I did like to hear him describe things, that was one of his strengths. Whether he was right or wrong, he could talk a good game with the best of them.
