Kosmos ~ Chapter 12 Discussion

After completing this chapter, I came to realize that, unlike Mrs. DS, it is important that I understand what is happening to our environment and what actions of mine are contributing to its demise. In other words, I am better off knowing about rather than “not knowing about our shattered skies, the gruesome history leading to them, and our possible bleak future” because knowledge is the vehicle of change.

Just recently I saw a commercial on television that really spoke to my heart. In the commercial you have a shot of a young girl with dull blonde hair and unexpressive blue eyes saying to the camera, “you promised us the future. Is this what you had in mind?” After asking this question the shot of the little girl is replaced with a shot that I feel illustrates the shattered skies and bleak future discussed throughout chapter 12—a earth polluted and lifeless that our future children and grandchildren and great grandchildren will inherit.

As I’ve stated in previous posts we may not always understand or care to understand the technicalities of science, but it is important that we understand the consequences of indifference. I’m not arguing that we should all become scholars on global warming or that upon graduation we should all devote ourselves to one of many non-profit organizations working to combat global warming. No, that’s not it at all. What I’m arguing is that there is still time and as long as there is time we should all take the initiative to at least learn what we can do in our personal lives to help inhibit if not preclude a future of lifelessness. There is no way for us to know for sure whether or not all of or any of the hypotheses surrounding global warming will be realized. I get that. I also get that becoming informed and taking action can’t make global warming worse and could possibly make it better. Think of it like Pascal’s Wager.

Pascal's Wager can be presented in many different forms, usually something like this:

If you believe, and God exists, you gain everything. If you disbelieve, and God exists, you lose everything.

Alternatively :

It makes more sense to believe in God than to not believe. If you believe, and God exists, you will be rewarded in the afterlife. If you do not believe, and He exists, you will be punished for your disbelief. If He does not exist, you have lost nothing either way.

(http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/wager.html)