Carl Sagan’s warning and the answer we must not ignore
Why the visionary scientist’s message is more urgent than ever — and how his “pale blue dot” gives us the way forward
I was talking with a younger colleague the other day when something unexpected happened. I mentioned Carl Sagan only to be met with stunned silence. For a moment I was stunned too. How could anyone not know one of the greatest science communicators of all time? But then I remembered: Carl Sagan passed away in 1996. For those of us who grew up with Cosmos, who devoured The Demon-Haunted World (1995), and who found ourselves entranced by his poetic reflections on our place in the universe, his presence remains as vivid as ever. But for a younger generation, he is just a name — if that.
We should remember the man and his message. Because in an age where misinformation spreads like wildfire, where reason and scientific literacy seem to be losing ground to superstition and conspiracy theories, Sagan’s words have never been more important. His warning in The Demon-Haunted World feels eerily prescient, and yet, the very antidote to that dystopian vision is the message of cosmic humility and interconnectedness that made him famous.
Sagan’s warning: The demon-haunted present
In The Demon-Haunted World, Sagan wrote what now seems like an unsettlingly accurate prophecy:
“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.”
That was nearly 30 years ago. And yet, here we are. Misinformation is at an all-time high. Scientific consensus is regularly dismissed in favour of gut feelings. Critical thinking is undervalued, drowned out by noise and outrage. Sagan’s description of a world where people are unable to meaningfully engage with the forces shaping their lives could have been written yesterday.
It’s easy to feel despair when revisiting those words. After all, if Sagan saw this coming, and if we still let it happen, what hope is there? But then I remember another one of his most famous messages — the one that offers not just perspective, but a cure to society’s ills.
The pale blue dot
Inspired by the iconic 1990 image of Earth taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft from 3.7 billion miles away, Sagan delivered one of the most profound monologues ever. In that grainy image, Earth appears as nothing more than a tiny speck, a pale blue dot suspended in a vast cosmic arena.
“Consider again that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us.” Sagan described how every human who has ever lived — every king, every peasant, every hero and coward — has existed on this tiny, fragile world.
Sagan wasn’t just marvelling at the scale of the universe; he was delivering a moral imperative. The image, he argued, should humble us. It should remind us of our shared humanity. It should show us the folly of division, the pettiness of war, the urgency of cooperation.
“To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.”
That is the answer to the crisis he foresaw in The Demon-Haunted World. If ignorance is the problem, knowledge is the solution. If tribalism is the disease, perspective that reaffirms our common humanity is the cure.
Carrying Sagan’s torch
Sagan’s work remains essential reading and viewing because it bridges the gap between knowledge and wisdom. He wasn’t just an astronomer; he was a philosopher of science, an advocate for reason, and an unwavering optimist about humanity’s potential.
His message was clear: Science is a tool for understanding, a candle in the dark. But it is a candle we must protect.
When we look at the world today — at political polarisation, misinformation, environmental destruction and more — it’s easy to feel despair. But as Sagan would remind us, we are capable of change. The same species that sent probes to the outer planets, decoded the language of DNA, and unravelled the mysteries of the cosmos, is the same species that can choose to build a better future.
So, what can we do?
First, we can learn. Read The Demon-Haunted World (Buy now: Affiliate link). Watch Cosmos. Reacquaint yourself with the joy of scientific inquiry and the importance of skepticism.
Second, we can share. If you have younger colleagues, friends, or family members who don’t know who Carl Sagan was, introduce them to his work. His message isn’t bound by time; it is as relevant now as it was then.
Finally, we can act. Defending science and reason means standing up against misinformation, supporting evidence-based policies, and promoting critical thinking in our communities.
Sagan gave us the warning, but he also gave us the answer. Let’s make sure the candle stays lit.
Jonathan Meddings is an author and advocate from Melbourne, Australia.
