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    The demon-haunted world : science as a candle in the dark / Carl Sagan.

    • Title:The demon-haunted world : science as a candle in the dark / Carl Sagan.
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    • Variant Title:Science as a candle in the dark
    • Author/Creator:Sagan, Carl, 1934-1996.
    • Published/Created:New York : Ballantine Books, 1996.
    • Holdings

       
    • Library of Congress Subjects:Science--Methodology.
      Science--Study and teaching.
      Literacy.
      Science and civilization.
    • Genre/Form:Popular works.
    • Description:xviii, 457 pages ; 21 cm
    • Summary:Are we on the brink of a new Dark Age of irrationality and superstition? In this book, the writer shows how scientific thinking is necessary to safeguard our democratic institutions and our technical civilization. This book is more personal and richer in moving and revealing human stories than anything the author has previously written. With illustrations from his own childhood experience as well as engrossing tales of discovery, he shows how the method of scientific thought can cut through prejudice and hysteria to uncover the often surprising truth. He convincingly debunks "alien abduction," "channelers," faith-healer fraud, the "face" on Mars, and much else. Along the way, he refutes the arguments that science destroys spirituality or is just another arbitrary belief system, asks why scientific study is often stigmatized, discusses the dangers of the misuse of science, and provides a "baloney detection kit" for thinking through political, social, religious, and other issues. -- Jacket
    • Notes:"March 1997."
      Includes bibliographical references and index.
    • ISBN:0345409469 (pbk.)
      9780345409461 (pbk.)
    • Contents:The most precious thing
      Science and hope
      The man in the moon and the face on Mars
      Aliens
      Spoofing and secrecy
      Hallucinations
      The demon-haunted world
      On the distinction between true and false visions
      Therapy
      The dragon in my garage
      The city of grief
      The fine art of baloney detection
      Obsessed with reality
      Antiscience
      Newton's sleep
      When scientists know sin
      The marriage of skepticism and wonder
      The wind makes dust
      No such thing as a dumb question
      House on fire
      The path to freedom
      Significance junkies
      Maxwell and the nerds
      Science and witchcraft
      Real patriots ask questions.
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