Thanks for Cosmos

James74 · 08-05-2010 2:46am #1

I while back somebody from this forum recommended watching Carl Sagan's Cosmos. Tonight I just finished watching the final episode of a TV series that changed my outlook on science, religion and humanity. I profoundly wanted to thank that forum user but I couldn't remember what boardie or what thread the recommendation came from. So this post is my poor attempt to thank that forgotten recommender.

As a regular, usually silent lurker on A&A I have no doubt that most of the folks here are already probably familiar with Cosmos. To those that haven't seen it, please find a copy and treat yourself. Sagan's passion, charm, humanity, awe and wonder are evident in every frame of this series.

In the last episode (one of the few episodes of a TV programmes that have ever brought a tear to my eye) he says of science:
"...it's only sacred truth is that there are no sacred truths. All assumptions must be critically examined, arguments from authority are worthless. Whatever is inconsistent with the facts no matter how fond of it we are, must be discarded or revised...science is only a tool, but it's the best tool we have, applicable to everything..."
I've watched that sequence a few times now because I wanted to get that quote right, and that simple statement has left me dazed, confused, excited.

There is so much more I wanted to say about this series, especially in regards to its gentle humanism, and how it quietly deals with superstition and religion. But it's very late, so again, this is a simple thank you to that A&A poster who brought Cosmos to my attention.

Mods, delete or move this post if you see fit, I couldn't think where else to express my thanks. James.

Dave! · 08-05-2010 6:20am

No problemo :pac:

must get around to watching Cosmos...

James74 · 08-05-2010 10:44am

Thanks Dave.

btw, I like your sig, I'm a big fan of Dr. Novella and the Rogues.

Dave! · 08-05-2010 10:45am

James74 wrote: »

Thanks Dave.

btw, I like your sig, I'm a big fan of Dr. Novella and the Rogues.

Wanna be friends???

James74 · 08-05-2010 10:52am

Ahhh... I feel all warm and cuddly inside.:o

A strange man demonstrating inappropriate affection early in the morning...I have an urge to call you Father Dave

sink · 08-05-2010 11:45am

Hey OP, glad you liked Cosmos. It definitely should be required viewing. If you're interested you should check out "The Ascent of Man" which deals with the scientific and cultural evolution of humanity. Some of it is a little dated but it is excellent for giving the big picture of our species and society. The series is what inspired Carl Sagan to write and film Cosmos and it should also be required viewing alongside Cosmos.

Dades · 08-05-2010 11:52am

Read his SF novel "Contact" if you haven't. It's a fantastic book (and sufficiently different from the film).

Welcome, btw!

8kvscdpglqnyr4 · 08-05-2010 12:10pm

+1 for "Contact" the novel. A fantastic read!

liamw · 08-05-2010 12:15pm

I'm on the second episode of Cosmos, and will definitely finish it now given all the recommendations.

And will check out 'Contact'

Between Dawkins, Harris and Hitchens and Stephen Pinker I have a lot on my booklist.

I love this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupToqz1e2g

ChocolateSauce · 08-05-2010 6:48pm

OP, I saw cosmos long ago, before I was 8, but thanks to you I think I'll watch it again.

The sentiment you expressed is one which I have always held deeply, one I can never forget.

sponsoredwalk · 09-05-2010 6:43am

As amazing as Cosmos is it's sometimes pretty detailed & at other times less so. I learned some new things from Cosmos but I had really learned most of this stuff from the most amazing tv show ever:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mechanical_Universe

This, for me, was Cosmos on steriods & similar in so many respects. Simply the best & most educational experience tv can offer! The guy has a slightly Sagan-esque voice too lol. Even if you don't know math (which I didn't when I watched it!!!) you can watch it & hopefully get so inspired to learn the math behind physics & astronomy & see how relatively easy it is, plus it's free/legal online!

Also, the Ascent of Man looks great, I had made a mental plan to watch;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilisation:_A_Personal_View
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_ascent_of_man
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_Earth_%28TV_series%29

as they seem linked & to be some of the best of tv back then but I've just gotten distracted lately.

Gregor Samsa · 09-05-2010 11:14pm

My mother used to watch Cosmos when it was first shown on TV (1980 or '81 I think). I was only 7 or 8 at the time, and used to watch it with her, although I'm sure a lot of it went over my head at the time. She got the book based on the series (a great hardcover fully illustrated edition, which is much better than the paperback one), and I used to love flicking through it and discussing it with her - I was just so blown away by so many of the ideas in it. Over the years as I got older, I got more and more out of it each time I opened it.

When my Mum died a few years ago, that book was the one memento I took from the house to remember her by.

Apart from my childhood dinosaur books, this was my first exposure to the incredible wonders of the universe and scientific exploration - and my first realisation that "God done it" was not the correct answer. So I reckon I have Carl Sagan (and my Mum) to thank for the path that led me to my appreciation of the universe, and my atheism.

silent sage · 14-05-2010 1:57am

It's funny, I was going to start my own "Carl Sagan's Cosmos Series" appreciation topic not so long ago, in the hope that I'd find something as scientifically profound, inspiring and personal.

I am a casual atheistic lurker of the Religion & Spirituality forum who is continually grateful to the admirable posters who articulate their lack of belief far greater than I ever could.

The entire "Cosmos Series" (for those who haven't seen it) can be found for free @ http://www.cosmolearning.com/documentaries/cosmos/

Are there any similarly free links to the series mentioned in posts 6 and 11?

aidan24326 · 14-05-2010 2:25am

Carl Sagan was one of the great people of our time. He could pack more profundity into one paragraph than most writers could muster in a whole book, and his conscientious humanism coupled with a powerful intellect was and is a combination all too lacking in our political leaders.

Weidii · 14-05-2010 3:57pm

Watching Cosmos was quite an experience. The only thing I can compare it to is sitting in the middle of an orchestra, playing Tchaikovsky. It sends shivers up my spine and brings a tear to my eye. I often watch clips from it when I'm stressed or having a bad time, it just puts everything into perspective for me. As Sagan said, hearing about astronomy is a humbling experience.

Sigh. And they say scientists can't appreciate the beauty of the world.

Oh, someone who always amazes me when I hear him speak is Richard Feynman. I'd recommend looking him up on youtube if you've not seen him before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU8PId_6xec

silent sage · 14-05-2010 4:30pm

silent sage wrote: »

Are there any similarly free links to the series mentioned in posts 6 and 11?

The Ascent of Man:
http://www.cosmolearning.com/documentaries/the-ascent-of-man-bbc/

The Mechanical Universe:
http://www.google.com/search?q=the+mechanical+universe&hl=en&tbo=p&tbs=vid:1&start=0&sa=N

robindch · 14-05-2010 5:01pm

silent sage wrote: »

The Ascent of Man

An excellent series. Unfortunately, Bronowski died not long after the series was made, so it remains a fitting tribute to a deep and broad mind.

His unscripted piece to camera from Auschwitz is excellent:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jl2w3xYFHQ

mikhail · 14-05-2010 5:53pm

Weidii wrote: »

Sigh. And they say scientists can't appreciate the beauty of the world.

Oh, someone who always amazes me when I hear him speak is Richard Feynman. I'd recommend looking him up on youtube if you've not seen him before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU8PId_6xec

When you mention Feynman just after scientists appreciating beauty, I thought you were going to link to this short bit, one of my favourite clips of him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSZNsIFID28

ChocolateSauce · 14-05-2010 8:01pm

Okay, so I've acquired the entire series and I'm going to start watching tonight!

kiffer · 14-05-2010 8:24pm

acquired...?

ChocolateSauce · 14-05-2010 9:22pm

kiffer wrote: »

acquired...?

Appropriated? :cool:

rccaulfield · 15-05-2010 12:36am

Cosmos is the stepping stone from Hating pointless boring science to absolute amazement in the discoveries of recent times!

sponsoredwalk wrote: »

As amazing as Cosmos is it's sometimes pretty detailed & at other times less so. I learned some new things from Cosmos but I had really learned most of this stuff from the most amazing tv show ever:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mechanical_Universe

This, for me, was Cosmos on steriods & similar in so many respects. Simply the best & most educational experience tv can offer! The guy has a slightly Sagan-esque voice too lol. Even if you don't know math (which I didn't when I watched it!!!) you can watch it & hopefully get so inspired to learn the math behind physics & astronomy & see how relatively easy it is, plus it's free/legal online!

Also, the Ascent of Man looks great, I had made a mental plan to watch;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilisation:_A_Personal_View
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_ascent_of_man
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_Earth_%28TV_series%29

as they seem linked & to be some of the best of tv back then but I've just gotten distracted lately.

Im on lecture 4(is there no lecture 1 on youtube?)and tbh im struggling with the math side. I'll stick with it tho, i found the laws of falling bodies amazing minus the math!

sponsoredwalk · 15-05-2010 9:40am

rccaulfield wrote: »

Cosmos is the stepping stone from Hating pointless boring science to absolute amazement in the discoveries of recent times!

Im on lecture 4(is there no lecture 1 on youtube?)and tbh im struggling with the math side. I'll stick with it tho, i found the laws of falling bodies amazing minus the math!

Hey yes are 52 full lectures online, here is the original site;

http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html

and all of the lectures are in full on google video, if you just find the name of the lecture on wikipedia & google that name you'll find it (but the website above has them all!).

I don't know how strong your math is but if you had more confidence in math that show would be 100's of times better, it really would. There are some unbelievable things that pop out using basic algebra like the speed of light & the charge of an electron that you will just miss.

http://www.learner.org/resources/series66.html

Here is an algebra video series that would be really useful seeing as so much of the math is algebra.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calculus_Made_Easy

Here is a calculus book that Feynman used back in the day, (the full version is legal & free in the first link on the page!). If you have the algebra skills this book will be a sinch, seriously a sinch & will help so much!

www.khanacademy.org

This site would probably get you an a on the higher LC if you watched them all, understood them & used your book as a backup. I'd advise this one as something to consult for those things you get a bit confused on, you'll probably get sidetracked & just watch all of this guys lectures first lol (on both math & physics).

Found these just now, they look cool. http://www.calculus-help.com/tutorials

I did the physics lectures without any of the math & I suffered & had to rewatch more than half of them, the law of falling bodies kept me occupied for some time too

bogwalrus · 16-05-2010 12:07am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGK84Poeynk

rccaulfield · 19-05-2010 12:25am

sponsoredwalk wrote: »

Hey yes are 52 full lectures online, here is the original site;

http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html

and all of the lectures are in full on google video, if you just find the name of the lecture on wikipedia & google that name you'll find it (but the website above has them all!).

I don't know how strong your math is but if you had more confidence in math that show would be 100's of times better, it really would. There are some unbelievable things that pop out using basic algebra like the speed of light & the charge of an electron that you will just miss.

http://www.learner.org/resources/series66.html

Here is an algebra video series that would be really useful seeing as so much of the math is algebra.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calculus_Made_Easy

Here is a calculus book that Feynman used back in the day, (the full version is legal & free in the first link on the page!). If you have the algebra skills this book will be a sinch, seriously a sinch & will help so much!

www.khanacademy.org

This site would probably get you an a on the higher LC if you watched them all, understood them & used your book as a backup. I'd advise this one as something to consult for those things you get a bit confused on, you'll probably get sidetracked & just watch all of this guys lectures first lol (on both math & physics).

Found these just now, they look cool. http://www.calculus-help.com/tutorials

I did the physics lectures without any of the math & I suffered & had to rewatch more than half of them, the law of falling bodies kept me occupied for some time too

Thanks b in honours junior cert a pass lc- always struggled with the whats the point of it myself- that still lingers but not as much! there are still certain aspects of Maths that i cant find a base in reality for but maybe thats my ignorance!- I'll start on those links-thanks i'll let u know!

Waking-Dreams · 26-05-2010 8:42pm

Thanks to the OP for this thread; I'm watching the DVD of this as a result. What a great series, wish they could have showed us that in science class at secondary school.

As I was watching it, I was somehow picturing Alan Partridge. Does anyone else think Sagan looks a wee bit like a more intellectual version of Alan Partridge?

Kaizersoze81 · 02-04-2014 7:04pm

So anyone watching the successor to cosmos ? Cosmos:a space odyssey. Amazing stuff

lynski · 02-04-2014 9:51pm

Loving it, it is inspiring and I am watching with my seven yr old and he is loving it. the five yr old is getting into it too.

KyussBishop · 03-04-2014 11:09am

Am waiting for it to finish up, and will watch the lot after that

Have been searching out loads of similar 'from a personal point of view' type documentaries (most of which mentioned in the thread already) for the last while.

Probably the best of the lot that I've seen, is The Age of Uncertainty from John Kenneth Galbraith - it's on the history of economics, and Galbraith is a really good narrator (with a pretty sharp wit), which makes this really interesting to watch.
You can watch the entire documentary series straight off of YouTube; the last 3 are a set of discussions between various economists, and are best skipped:
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, (last 3 skippable[noparse]:)[/noparse] Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen

When I was searching out more documentaries like this, I also came across this interesting info on Wikipedia, about David Attenborough:
When he became controller at the BBC, he commissioned Civilization and The Ascent of Man - so he pretty much kicked off the format/template which was used for nearly all of the documentaries mentioned in the thread - and he even commissioned Monty Python's Flying Circus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_attenborough#BBC_administration

On Feynmann, I watched not too long ago, 'The Pleasure of Finding Things Out', which is a definite must-see - particularly for anyone who enjoyed Cosmos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgaw9qe7DEE

magicbastarder · 03-04-2014 11:31am

KyussBishop wrote: »

When I was searching out more documentaries like this, I also came across this interesting info on Wikipedia, about David Attenborough:
When he became controller at the BBC, he commissioned Civilization and The Ascent of Man - so he pretty much kicked off the format/template which was used for nearly all of the documentaries mentioned in the thread - and he even commissioned Monty Python's Flying Circus

he was responsible for giving bbc2 a policy where it would show something designed to appeal to a different audience from whatever was showing at the time on bbc1; and he oversaw the introduction of colour TV to the UK.
it's worth reading his memoirs.

regarding cosmos, the remake, the two minutes i saw of it were offputting. far too CGI heavy.

robindch · 04-04-2014 11:43am

KyussBishop wrote: »

[...] documentaries [...]

Too many good ones to mention, but one that stands out for me is Simon Singh's excellent, moving Horizon documentary on Andrew Wiles' proof of Fermat's Last Theorem - it captures beautifully the intellectual intensity and intense pleasure of first-rate mathematical work. At the end of it, it's hard not to stand up and shout "Bravo, well played, sir!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FnXgprKgSE

Thanks for Cosmos

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