Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilisation

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All text, images, and layout in Starry Messenger are copyright 1999-2000, the Department of History and Philosophy of Science ofthe University of Cambridge, the individual authors, and libraries as noted for particular images. For example, Galileo sent telescopes as gifts to influential people; in such cases the telescopes were important not only as instruments but also as attractive objects. Objective truths apply to all people, places, and things, as well as all animals, vegetables, and minerals…. An early example would be Galileo's observation in 1610 that Earth is NOT the center of all motion, that the Earth orbits the sun as just one of other known planets. Alas, self-selection bias will keep many of the people who could gain from Tyson's insights from picking up the book in the first place, but that in itself helps drive the point that we need to think just a little bit better than we historical have done.

In Tyson's ideal world, all of humanity would be versed in statistics, to separate 'feelings' from 'knowledge. With regard to this, Tyson observes, "Of all professions, scientists may be uniquely capable of generating and sustaining peace among nations. For example, he says that male reindeer shed their antlers in November, therefore Santa's reindeer are actually female and have been mis-gendered for countless years.It's subtitled "Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization," and Tyson illustrates points about government, politics, race, gender, culture, and all manner of other weighty ideas and subjects with remarkable insight, clarity, and refreshing humor. Some of these topics are incredibly polarizing, yet the author addresses each of these topics lightly with kind, rational discussions. Ultimately, his effort at naming the moons failed, for they are now referred to as the "Galilean moons".

So the accused might be pushed underwater; forced to walk through fire; have boiling oil poured on their chest; or made to drink poison. The pace of scientific developments with all the biases of each era clouding judgments on what was to come.This brings me to a thought I had while reading Tyson's book that involves Obama and white superiority. Alternately admiring and critical, unvarnished, and a closely detailed account of a troubled innovator. He firmly believes that “all requirements should be treated as recommendations”; that it is his destiny to make humankind a multi-planetary civilization through innovations in space travel; that government is generally an impediment and that “the thought police are gaining power”; and that “a maniacal sense of urgency” should guide his businesses.

He’s so level-headed and rational and *calmly* excited about science and the wonders of the world that I can’t help but be sucked into the magic of his narrative.In some of the book’s most fanciful passages, Tyson proudly lets his nerd flag fly, imagining what visitors from space would make of our social divisions and holding up Comic-Con, the annual gathering of comic book aficionados, as a model of social community.

A simpler version of this cover page is available for browsers that do not display this page correctly. For instance, in an example of the evolution of criminal trials, Tyson observes that some historic cultures let God decide guilt or innocence. Our evolution and history has led us to think and act in ways that favor more tribal, and short term solution seeking. In short, if you need a reason to remember that science is real, that all is not lost, that those who would drag everything down to the lowest level have not won, yet, then this might be the book you need.I particularly love when as a thought experiment, Tyson looks at racism from the perspective of Blacks being superior and whites being inferior. They are not established by the authority of leaders or the power of persuasion, nor are they learned from repetition, or gleaned from magical thinking. Sidereus Nuncius (usually Sidereal Messenger, also Starry Messenger or Sidereal Message) is a short astronomical treatise (or pamphlet) published in Neo-Latin by Galileo Galilei on March 13, 1610.