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Cosmic Apprentice: Dispatches from the Edges of Science
In the pursuit of knowledge, Dorion Sagan argues in this dazzlingly eclectic, rigorously crafted, and deliciously witty collection of essays, scientific authoritarianism and philosophical obscurantism are equally formidable obstacles to discovery. As science has become more specialized and more costly, its questing spirit has been constrained by dogma. And philosophy, perhaps the discipline best placed to question orthodoxy, has retreated behind dense theoretical language and arcane topics of learning.
Guided by a capacious, democratic view of science inspired by the examples set by his late parents—Carl Sagan, who popularized the study of the cosmos, and Lynn Margulis, an evolutionary biologist who repeatedly clashed with the scientific establishment—Sagan draws on classical and contemporary philosophy to intervene provocatively in often-charged debates on thermodynamics, linear and nonlinear time, purpose, ethics, the links between language and psychedelic drugs, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the occupation of the human body by microbial others. Informed by a countercultural sensibility, a deep engagement with speculative thought, and a hardheaded scientific skepticism, he advances controversial positions on such seemingly sacrosanct subjects as evolution and entropy. At the same time, he creatively considers a wide range of thinkers, from Socrates to Bataille and Descartes to von Uexküll, to reflect on sex, biopolitics, and the free will of Kermit the Frog.
Refreshingly nonconformist and polemically incisive, Cosmic Apprentice challenges readers to reject both dogma and cliché and instead recover the intellectual spirit of adventure that should—and can once again—animate both science and philosophy.
Guided by a capacious, democratic view of science inspired by the examples set by his late parents—Carl Sagan, who popularized the study of the cosmos, and Lynn Margulis, an evolutionary biologist who repeatedly clashed with the scientific establishment—Sagan draws on classical and contemporary philosophy to intervene provocatively in often-charged debates on thermodynamics, linear and nonlinear time, purpose, ethics, the links between language and psychedelic drugs, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the occupation of the human body by microbial others. Informed by a countercultural sensibility, a deep engagement with speculative thought, and a hardheaded scientific skepticism, he advances controversial positions on such seemingly sacrosanct subjects as evolution and entropy. At the same time, he creatively considers a wide range of thinkers, from Socrates to Bataille and Descartes to von Uexküll, to reflect on sex, biopolitics, and the free will of Kermit the Frog.
Refreshingly nonconformist and polemically incisive, Cosmic Apprentice challenges readers to reject both dogma and cliché and instead recover the intellectual spirit of adventure that should—and can once again—animate both science and philosophy.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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645 people want to read
About the author
Dorion Sagan
50 books52 followersDorion Sagan (born 1959 in Madison, Wisconsin) is an American science writer, essayist, and theorist. He has written and co-authored many books on culture, evolution, and the history and philosophy of science, most recently The Sciences of Avatar: from Anthropology to Xenology and Death and Sex, which won first place at the 2010 New York Book Show in the general trade nonfiction category. His Into the Cool, co-authored with Eric D. Schneider, is about the relationship between non-equilibrium thermodynamics and life.
A Fellow of the Lindisfarne Association, he has been a Humana Scholar at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and received an Educational Press Association of America Excellence in Educational Journalism Award for “The Riddle of Sex,” which appeared in The Science Teacher. His Death and Sex, a two-in-one hardcover published by Chelsea Green, won the 2010 New York Book Show in the competitive general trade nonfiction category. His current interests include philosophy and science fiction.
Sagan is the son of astronomer Carl Sagan and biologist Lynn Margulis. His younger brother is Jeremy Sagan and his half-brother is Nick Sagan.
A Fellow of the Lindisfarne Association, he has been a Humana Scholar at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, and received an Educational Press Association of America Excellence in Educational Journalism Award for “The Riddle of Sex,” which appeared in The Science Teacher. His Death and Sex, a two-in-one hardcover published by Chelsea Green, won the 2010 New York Book Show in the competitive general trade nonfiction category. His current interests include philosophy and science fiction.
Sagan is the son of astronomer Carl Sagan and biologist Lynn Margulis. His younger brother is Jeremy Sagan and his half-brother is Nick Sagan.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 12, 2014
Dorian Sagan’s “Cosmic Apprentice” is a collection of speculative and celebratory essays on biology, life and the human condition.
Some of these essays re-explore and extend arguments that were put forward in his 2005 book with Dr. Eric D. Schneider entitled “Into the Cool”. The main thesis of “Into the Cool” is that life is a thermodynamic phenomena that thrives on the energy gradients that characterize systems far from equilibrium. The Earth, for example, bathes in a river of radiant energy whose source is the Sun. Far from thermodynamic equilibrium the Earth evolves more and more complex ways to degrade this persistent energy gradient and find an equilibrium state that doesn’t yet exist. Sagan and Schneider point out that, like living organisms, even simple thermodynamic systems seem to display purposive behaviors as they seek equilibrium and maximize entropy. These passages, from the “Cosmic Apprentice,” express the perspectives of the earlier “Into the Cool.”
“A streamer of air finds its way out through an electric outlet into a cooler cool. This is purposeful behavior.”
“Our bodies are less temporary than a whirlpool; more long lasting than a match zoomed in on in a David Lynch movie, but still, we are essentially processes, not things.”
I read “Into the Cool” in 2005 and was completely enraptured. I highly recommend it to the interested reader.
When I saw Dorian Sagan had a new book on the market, I ordered it on the spot. He still writes masterfully and elegantly. But my recommendation for it is preceded by some hesitation. Whereas I have sympathy for his thermodynamic speculations on the nature of life, I have little or no sympathy for the deconstructionism of continental philosophers, dangerous speculations that HIV is not the causative agent of AIDS nor Otto Rossler’s silly suit to stop the Hadron Collider’s search for the Higg’s particle because it might create a black hole that will swallow the world. Nevertheless, there’s enough thoughtful observation in this short book to make the read worthwhile.
Some of these essays re-explore and extend arguments that were put forward in his 2005 book with Dr. Eric D. Schneider entitled “Into the Cool”. The main thesis of “Into the Cool” is that life is a thermodynamic phenomena that thrives on the energy gradients that characterize systems far from equilibrium. The Earth, for example, bathes in a river of radiant energy whose source is the Sun. Far from thermodynamic equilibrium the Earth evolves more and more complex ways to degrade this persistent energy gradient and find an equilibrium state that doesn’t yet exist. Sagan and Schneider point out that, like living organisms, even simple thermodynamic systems seem to display purposive behaviors as they seek equilibrium and maximize entropy. These passages, from the “Cosmic Apprentice,” express the perspectives of the earlier “Into the Cool.”
“A streamer of air finds its way out through an electric outlet into a cooler cool. This is purposeful behavior.”
“Our bodies are less temporary than a whirlpool; more long lasting than a match zoomed in on in a David Lynch movie, but still, we are essentially processes, not things.”
I read “Into the Cool” in 2005 and was completely enraptured. I highly recommend it to the interested reader.
When I saw Dorian Sagan had a new book on the market, I ordered it on the spot. He still writes masterfully and elegantly. But my recommendation for it is preceded by some hesitation. Whereas I have sympathy for his thermodynamic speculations on the nature of life, I have little or no sympathy for the deconstructionism of continental philosophers, dangerous speculations that HIV is not the causative agent of AIDS nor Otto Rossler’s silly suit to stop the Hadron Collider’s search for the Higg’s particle because it might create a black hole that will swallow the world. Nevertheless, there’s enough thoughtful observation in this short book to make the read worthwhile.
August 22, 2015
There are enough educational and philosophical nuggets in this book that it will cause you to pause every few pages to laugh in astonishment or to take a moment to gather your "reality" bearings.
Like others have said, the writing can be overdone in spots, but being that it's a wide collection of writings with different amounts of exposure to editors, that's to be expected.
Your corporate being, and the energetic flow of life may owe itself a round of applause on this fascinating set of writings.
Like others have said, the writing can be overdone in spots, but being that it's a wide collection of writings with different amounts of exposure to editors, that's to be expected.
Your corporate being, and the energetic flow of life may owe itself a round of applause on this fascinating set of writings.
August 2, 2021
Pretentious
November 22, 2022
A wild ride!
April 23, 2020
This book will tell you the purpose of life. Seriously! (At least, one of them). It is an amazing book for science or non-science people. It will push the boundaries of what you consider your reality. Dorion Sagan is a great writer. However, in my opinion, his writing style is the only reason this book doesn't deserve 5 stars. He often abuses citations and very often gives us (very) long paragraphs, which get in the way of what he wants to communicate. Nevertheless, the book shows a rich interdisciplinary view of the universe, living and non-living beings, societies and us, as individuals. Definitely worth reading. (Even if the first few chapters seem like a waste of time, trust me, keep on reading).
June 18, 2017
A fun mix of essays covering topics and ideas circling the usually rather dry spot of philosophy of science. Sagan talks about the gaia theory, us and the microbes, life's purpose of reducing gradients, the kermitronic predicament, ecodelic trips, science vs science wars. His writing is incredibly entertaining, in parts very personal and always very smart. I feel like i missed out on many witty jokes by not being familiar with all the science, philosophy, literature and pop-culture references he makes, but i definitely enjoyed all the ones i got.
November 8, 2013
The subtitle of Dorion Sagan's Cosmic Apprentice is: dispatches from the edges of science. (all "serious" books seem to have subtitles these days) Yes, however the chapters really arent short and concise enough to be dispatches but they are patchy. I had to skim much of it because the writing style just doesnt go smoothy. Interesting but not compelling stuff.
May 9, 2014
Like father, like son.
April 30, 2013
Great info, but style was stale, tough to read line by line.
July 2, 2013
Read.this.book. The End.
Want to read
December 28, 2013As heard on Science Friday.
May 17, 2014
Hi! Here's a link to my original review at my personal blog:
http://baldscientist.wordpress.com/20...
http://baldscientist.wordpress.com/20...
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews