... Another writer again agreed with all my generalities, but said that as an
inveterate skeptic I have closed my mind to the truth. Most notably I have
ignored the evidence for an Earth that is six thousand years old. Well, I
haven't ignored it; I considered the purported evidence and *then* rejected
it. There is a difference, and this is a difference, we might say, between
prejudice and postjudice. Prejudice is making a judgment before you have
looked at the facts. Postjudice is making a judgment afterwards. Prejudice
is terrible, in the sense that you commit injustices and you make serious
mistakes. Postjudice is not terrible. You can't be perfect of course; you
may make mistakes also. But it is permissible to make a judgment after you
have examined the evidence. In some circles it is even encouraged.
-- Carl Sagan, "The Burden of Skepticism"
inveterate skeptic I have closed my mind to the truth. Most notably I have
ignored the evidence for an Earth that is six thousand years old. Well, I
haven't ignored it; I considered the purported evidence and *then* rejected
it. There is a difference, and this is a difference, we might say, between
prejudice and postjudice. Prejudice is making a judgment before you have
looked at the facts. Postjudice is making a judgment afterwards. Prejudice
is terrible, in the sense that you commit injustices and you make serious
mistakes. Postjudice is not terrible. You can't be perfect of course; you
may make mistakes also. But it is permissible to make a judgment after you
have examined the evidence. In some circles it is even encouraged.
-- Carl Sagan, "The Burden of Skepticism"
Related:
- Another writer again agreed with all my generalities,
but said that as an inveterate skeptic I have closed... - It is a capital mistake to theorize before you have all the evidence.
It biases the judgment... - I'm often asked the question, "Do you think there is extraterrestrial
intelligence?" I give the standard arguments -
there are a lot of places out there, and use the word... - I'm often asked the question, "Do you think there is extraterrestrial intelli-
gence?" I give the standard arguments -- there are... - Jacques: First, you must get to know your lane. Feel the slickness,
feel the slippery finish. Caresses it, experience it... - Riker: "Do you mind if we discuss changes in procedure before you make them?"
Ro:
"If I had to come to you in advance and ask you to... - David Brinkley: The daily astrological charts are precisely where,
in my judgment, they belong, and that is on the comic... - THE COURT: Now, as we begin, I must ask you to banish all present
information and prejudice from your minds,
if you have any. -- Richard Lederer "Disorder in the... - Fortune's Real-Life Courtroom Quote #29:
THE JUDGE:
Now, as we begin, I must ask you to banish all present...
From the same category:
- Video Game Parlors"
by R.... - Lost baby found alive in
pumpkin... - MOUSE:
Species of rodent known to inhabit computers... - Logically incoherent, semantically incomprehensible,
and legally ... impeccable... - Uppers are no longer stylish, methedrine is almost as rare as pure acid
or DMT.
"Consciousness Expansion" went out with LBJ and it...
