Carl Sagan’s 1995 Oracle Materialized
Almost 30 years later, Damn, he was on point!
Carl Sagan, a renowned astrophysicist, once expressed a disturbing concern about the trajectory of American society, foreseeing a future dominated by superficiality, ignorance, and a loss of critical thinking. In examining contemporary America, it is increasingly evident that Sagan’s warning holds a mirror to our current reality. According to Sagan,
“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 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…
The dumbing down of American is most evident in the slow decay of substantive content in the enormously influential media, the 30 second sound bites (now down to 10 seconds or less), lowest common denominator programming, credulous presentations on pseudoscience and superstition, but especially a kind of celebration of ignorance”
Sagan’s quote was introduced in his book “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark,” which was published in 1995. He would pass away the following year in 1996.
The Shift to a Service and Information Economy
Sagan envisioned an America transformed into a “service and information economy,” a prophecy realized as manufacturing industries “slipped away to other countries.”
Sagan’s prophecy of America becoming a service and information economy has materialized. Today, the United States (U.S.) relies heavily on service-based industries, such as finance, healthcare, and technology, while manufacturing has primarily been set up internationally. For example, the rise of Silicon Valley as the epicenter of technological innovation has shifted the nation’s economic terrain towards information services, with companies like Google, Facebook (now Meta), and Amazon dominating the market.
Interestingly, these organizations may be seen as American-based companies; the question is, however, since 1995 (the year Sagan’s book was published), what percentage of the labor from these companies has shifted outside the U.S.? When you call Amazon or Citibank customer service, your representative could be anywhere in the world. In the future, AI may replace these very representatives.
These companies have significant operations outside of the U.S. to support international operations, but more importantly, they have expanded globally, establishing data centers that support U.S.-based customers. In Latin America, for example, it makes good business sense to go where labor is cost-effective.
Additionally, the time zones in Latin America are closer to the U.S. to a certain extent, with minor variations, making a shift to Latin America good business sense. It is important to note that these companies and others still maintain substantial operations within the U.S., including headquarters, research and development facilities, and other key functions. Over time, a more significant percentage of the labor will migrate outside the U.S.
Concentration of Technological Powers
Sagan foresaw “awesome technological powers” falling into the hands of “a very few,” a reality evident in the dominance of tech giants like Google, Facebook (Meta), and others. Recently, Senators grilled big tech CEOs about kids’ safety online. The focus seemed to be on money and demanding that these companies take complete (excluding parent responsibility) financial responsibility to protect children online. In establishing operations outside the U.S., these companies are positioning themselves for the legal battles that will surely come. After all, the U.S. is the most litigious country in the world.
Sagan’s concern about technological powers being concentrated in the hands of a few is unmistakably true. Tech giants wield unprecedented influence over various aspects of society, from communication and commerce to politics and personal data. For instance, the dominance of companies like Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, and others in their respective fields underscores the immense power held by a select few individuals and corporations.
Erosion of Public Representation and Critical Thinking
Sagan feared a time when “no one representing the public interest can even grasp the issues,” a concern mirrored in the influence of money in politics and the proliferation of misinformation hindering informed decision-making.
Sagan’s apprehension regarding the erosion of public representation and critical thinking finds resonance in contemporary America. The influence of money in politics has led to a disconnect between elected officials and the interests of the general public (the greater good is no longer a consideration), undermining the democratic process. Moreover, the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms and by cable news reporters has eroded trust in traditional sources of information, making it increasingly challenging for individuals to discern fact from fiction.
The Dumbing Down of America
Sagan lamented that “our critical faculties in decline,” as society cannot discern “between what feels good and what’s true,” reflected in the prevalence of sound bites and lowest common denominator programming. We just need to watch and listen to the idiocies from people who are singly focused on their agenda and unable to employ the basics of critical thinking for informed decision-making. It is a terrifying celebration of intellectual deficiency fed from years of intellectual laziness.
Sagan’s observation about the decline of substantive content in media is glaringly apparent today with calls for book-banning and changes in curriculum in schools and districts nationwide. The rise of clickbait journalism and sensationalized reporting has led to a need for more meaningful discourse, with attention-grabbing headlines and sound bites replacing in-depth analysis and investigative journalism. The prevalence of reality TV shows, celebrity gossip, and viral memes further perpetuates a culture of intellectual shallowness with no end in sight.
A Celebration of Ignorance and Superstition
Thus, Sagan decried the “celebration of ignorance” evident in the “slow decay of substantive content” and the propagation of “pseudoscience and superstition” in mainstream media.
Sagan’s warning about the celebration of ignorance is scary. The proliferation of pseudoscience, conspiracy theories, and anti-intellectualism is evident in mainstream culture, with platforms like YouTube and podcasts amplifying fringe beliefs and misinformation. YouTube, for example, has always offered great possibilities for a 21st-century world, but when misused, Lord, help us!
From the promotion of alternative medicine to the denial of climate change, there is a growing acceptance of ignorance and superstition at the expense of scientific inquiry and rational thought.
In revisiting Carl Sagan’s warning, it is clear that his fears have become our reality. From the dominance of service and information industries to the erosion of critical thinking and the more troubling celebration of ignorance, the signs of decline are all around us. Thus, it is imperative that we heed Sagan’s call for intellectual vigilance and strive to uphold the values of reason, knowledge, and truth in our society. Is it possible, though? Are we too far gone as a country/society?
On a related note, If you want to read Carl Sagan’s book, “The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark,” it can be found at archive.org — A digital library of free and borrowable books, movies, and music.
Thank you for reading. I so appreciate your support.
____________________________
Dr. D. Bernard, a multicultural and multilingual educational consultant, specializes in writing on educational topics.
Please Clap multiple times to boost my article to others. Share your experiences in the comments. Your words might inspire others. Additionally, Hit the Follow here on Medium and Subscribe to receive an email each time I publish. You can also find my research on ResearchGate, Google Scholar, TakeLessons, and other media channels like Instagram (@kufikia_kwa_nyota).