Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey

[Skyhilist]

Has anyone else watched this show yet. I personally think it's one of the best and most interesting/informative shows on television right now. Neil Degrasse Tyson does a great job of making things interesting for me, and doesn't whitewash anything I don't think - or at least he tries not to whitewash things as much as Fox will allow him. He's spoken out staunchly about the severe threats posed by anthropogenic climate change and even said this in the last episode:

"But what about civilizations that self-destruct? Our economic systems were formed when the planet and its air, rivers, oceans, lands, all seemed infinite. They evolved long before we first saw the Earth as the tiny organism that it actually is. They're all alike in one respect: they're profit-driven, and therefore, focused on short-term gain. The prevailing economic systems, no matter what their ideologies, have no built-in mechanisms for protecting our descendants of even 100 years from now, let alone, 100,000."

It seems to me like he's even going as far as to critique capitalism on the basis of it's ecological impact, even reformist capitalism (when he says "no matter what their ideologies"), just without using the word 'capitalism' (I imagine Fox would never let him to that anyways). I was honestly really impressed when he said this and have been really impressed with the show in general.

Neil Degrasse Tyson is also a really respectable person in general. If no one has seen his great answer to the question "why aren't there more women in science", it's worth watching I think:

z7ihNLEDiuM

Anyways, has anyone else been watching this show, and if so, what are your thoughts on it?

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

It's an excellent show. I haven't missed an episode.

[BIXX]

I think it isn't bad. However I wish he went a little more in depth, but that's just me.

[Leftsolidarity]

It's a rad fucking show. I really love both Cosmos and 'How The Universe Works'. I watch one of those shows every night.

[Ele'ill]

I watch Neil Degrasse Tyson's youtube channel thing because i like how he explains things. I think I made a comment on here somewhere that all my interests on various aptitude tests when I was a kid showed that I was supposed to be down with math and science but academia killed it so I became good at Lit and useless information. Wish he had been my teacher.

[Bala Perdida]

The show covered my weeks lesson in physics class in a recent episode. Made it look so much more interesting than in class!

[BIXX]

It's a rad fucking show. I really love both Cosmos and 'How The Universe Works'. I watch one of those shows every night.


I think how the universe works is the One that I like better. I think cosmos is good it just doesn't dig deep enough IMO.

[Skyhilist]

I think how the universe works is the One that I like better. I think cosmos is good it just doesn't dig deep enough IMO.

I think it might be because one of the central goal of Cosmos is to acknowledge those scientists who dared to think critically in the face of adversity and were and were largely forgotten by mainstream history. More time spent on this likely takes away from the time spent actually explaining the science behind things, but I still find it enjoyable learning about these figures.

[M-L-C-F]

While I like the original Cosmos more. I think this new one is a very good show. However it's limited, both in outright denouncing theism, and capitalism. However, the fact that it's an American show, and on Fox, is why it doesn't go further in those respects. (I was expecting more liberalism, but it's been good about it.) It's also not more in depth scientifically, because it's meant as a beginners course on TV. Neil Degrasse Tyson is a great scientist, and a good person. I like and respect him a lot. But he's not Carl Sagan. While the original Cosmos is dated in some aspects, it was more groundbreaking than this one. Carl Sagan and Richard Dawkins are my favourite scientists. Neil Degrasse Tyson is definitely up there though, as are a few others.

As an atheist and scientific skeptic. I tend to view science shows critically at times. But this one is worth watching, and it doesn't coddle ignorance. The show is refreshing, just like Nature, Nova, The Nature of Things, and a few other select science shows. (Though Nova has pissed me off in the past, in them giving creationists time to spout off their pseudoscience. You don't allow them to speak.) A lot of the crap on The Science Channel is just that: crap. Full of hypocrites, and bullshitters. I like Michio Kaku and all, but he's one of those hypocrites. He was ready and willing to go shoot other Asian people for the white man in Vietnam. Despite the scientific community denouncing the war, and his parents being put into the concentration camps during WWII. He's also a theistic hypocrite. Don't get me wrong, he's a great physicist. But that doesn't excuse his bullshit. At least Einstein made up for his theistic hypocrisy, by being a socialist. It's like Penn and Teller, they're atheists and skeptics. However, their libertarian skepticism is pseudoskepticism. (That being said, I'd rather deal with libertarian atheists, than theistic majority democrats. Since they're so similar politically, despite what they say.) Now, there are some good shows on The Science Channel still. But you've gotta filter through a lotta shit, to get to them.

Sorry for the rant too, but I'm just so sick and tired of stupid people. Whether it's bourgeois idiots, or theistic trash. It's nice to be able to watch something intelligent on TV. While it's nothing like when I went to Wayne State University's planetarium, and talked to the astronomy professor there. It's better than nothing, and it's a nice way to supplement reading.

[Max]

. Carl Sagan and Richard Dawkins are my favourite scientists. .
Dawkins is the best. His book The God Delusion was very influential in my decision to become an atheist. Also, his books The Magic of Reality and The Greatest Show on Earth are very good as well.

[MarcusJuniusBrutus]

Dawkins is the best. His book The God Delusion was very influential in my decision to become an atheist. Also, his books The Magic of Reality and The Greatest Show on Earth are very good as well.

So you decided to become an atheist? That's interesting.

For me I simply realized that divinity is unlikely, although it was the realization that a watered-down creationism is not only unnecessary, but would prevent evolution from working. Plus the fact that human perception is really prone to suggestion, confirmation bias, hallucination, and a bunch of other stuff that causes people to believe irrational things. Once I realized all that, there was no decision. I was already an atheist.

I greatly admire Dawkins and believe it is important to promote skeptical non-belief, but his commentary about specific religions makes it pretty clear that he is no historian. First, he is wrong to rely on orientalist "scholars" of Islam. The current situation is not a 7th century problem, but a reaction to western imperialism. Second, one cannot judge premodern writings by western, secular, commercial norms.

[MarcusJuniusBrutus]

I like the new show, but I find the ads really intrusive. The 1980 show was on public TV when it really was still public TV. That meant a 55 minute show with maybe a station break at the bottom of the hour. Sagan could get into some profound topics without every 8 minutes someone suddenly yelling at me about some consumer product that I never asked about. And we only get 36 minutes of program total.

[M-L-C-F]

I like the new show, but I find the ads really intrusive. The 1980 show was on public TV when it really was still public TV. That meant a 55 minute show with maybe a station break at the bottom of the hour. Sagan could get into some profound topics without every 8 minutes someone suddenly yelling at me about some consumer product that I never asked about. And we only get 36 minutes of program total.

That's one of my complaints as well. But nowadays, it wouldn't get enough funding for PBS. As it is, it took Seth MacFarlane lobbying to Fox, to get the show made.

[KobeB]

From my Literature class I know that he was that cunning Greek who outsmarted Troyans.
But then he voyaged 10 years in the open sea, now You come along sayin' he's venturing into Universe?? Gotta roll my eyes :confused:

[Skyhilist]

From my Literature class I know that he was that cunning Greek who outsmarted Troyans.
But then he voyaged 10 years in the open sea, now You come along sayin' he's venturing into Universe?? Gotta roll my eyes :confused:

Not sure if you're actually confused or are making a joke so I'll just assume the best...

You're getting the character Odysseus mixed up with the word "odyssey". An odyssey (as in the word, not the book) is just another word for a long/exciting adventure.

[Sasha]

I'm every episode I happen to see amazed how they got away with so much budget to be making the ultimate stoner entertainment...
Seriously, I'm about sure there the producers are weed pushers at the side...

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

I'm every episode I happen to see amazed how they got away with so much budget to be making the ultimate stoner entertainment...
Seriously, I'm about sure there the producers are weed pushers at the side...

You guys will like anything. A bunch of stars and you guys cream your pants, like, woooah dude.

God I fucking hate pothead culture.

[Ethics Gradient, Traitor For All Ages]

Hmm I hadn't considered watching it since the family guy idiot was involved with it but I guess I'll have to check it out. Has everyone seen the old series?

[Sasha]

You guys will like anything. A bunch of stars and you guys cream your pants, like, woooah dude.

God I fucking hate pothead culture.

not only stars, its also the whole way its edited the voice of the presenter etc etc, i think its too stoner for my taste in fact. but yeah, i'm just wondering whether the network knows what crowd this show primarily caters too.

case in point:

jSHNyppwS5w

[Red Commissar]

I think for a show catered to a popular science crowd it is done well. Their episode on evolution was a clear way of demonstrating what evolution is about and what it isn't, and why it serves as the best explanation for the way life developed.

Making science shows are tough though, it's hard to balance giving good information accessible to a newcomer, while making it somewhat entertaining for the viewer at least.

Personally, what I've appreciated is that they've taken time to discuss the people of science- the various scientists and other people who made the major advances that provided the foundations for future discoveries and technologies. Sometimes the human factor gets left out of the discussions in other places.

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

not only stars, its also the whole way its edited the voice of the presenter etc etc, i think its too stoner for my taste in fact. but yeah, i'm just wondering whether the network knows what crowd this show primarily caters too.

case in point:

jSHNyppwS5w

I bet this all started because Sagan was such a pothead (I really found his Cosmos obnoxious as all fuck as well, I'm sorry.) Now it's like a meme for potheads to sit and drift in and out of clarity while watching those programs.

[OvenVilson]

This future cosmic calendar is awfully optimistic.

[Rafiq]

There is nothing worse, IMO than doing, watching or participating in something that is specifically catered to your marijuana high. When you're high, you're already stupid and sluggish: Something that only heightens and congratulates your sluggishness makes for a bad experience, at least for me.

[M-L-C-F]

There is nothing worse, IMO than doing, watching or participating in something that is specifically catered to your marijuana high. When you're high, you're already stupid and sluggish: Something that only heightens and congratulates your sluggishness makes for a bad experience, at least for me.

I watched it sober, it's a great series period. This sorta talk is what happens when you're on a site like this though. It really detracts from a show like this. Which is a shame honestly. :closedeyes:

[Rafiq]

I watched it sober, it's a great series period. This sorta talk is what happens when you're on a site like this though. It really detracts from a show like this. Which is a shame honestly. :closedeyes:

I'm not saying it's a bad show. I'd watch it sober too. I'm talking about in general.

[M-L-C-F]

I'm not saying it's a bad show. I'd watch it sober too. I'm talking about in general.

Oh, alright, fair enough. :)