The universe was made on purpose...

[GK4Herd]

"The universe was made on purpose, the circle said. In whatever galaxy you happen to find yourself, you take the circumference of a circle, divide it by its diameter, measure closely enough, and uncover a miracle--another circle, drawn kilometers downstream of the decimal point. There would be richer messages farther in. It doesn't matter what you look like, or what you're made of, or where you come from. As long as you live in this universe, and have a modest talent for mathematics, sooner or later you'll find it. It's already here. It's inside everything. You don't have to leave your planet to find it. In the fabric of space and in the nature of matter, as in a great work of art, there is, written small, the artist's signature. Standing over humans, gods, and demons, subsuming Caretakers and Tunnel builders, there is an intelligence that antedates the universe. The circle had closed. She found what she had been searching for."

Contact - Carl Sagan

 

[extragreen]

"take the circumference of a circle, divide it by its diameter, measure closely enough, and uncover a miracle--another circle, drawn kilometers downstream of the decimal point."

What's this saying GK?

 

[GK4Herd]

Obviously he's referring to Pi. I'll give you a quote from German mathematician Jörg Arndt explaining it much better than I can...

"Somewhere in PI, everything that is finite is surely to be found, including, when coded in numeric form, every text in the world, the shortest, the longest, the cleverest. Naturally that includes this text, and also of course the Bible, in every language, and every piece of music."

I think what Sagan is getting at in this whole thing is that if there were civilizations out there that the laws of physics we see here on Earth are the same laws that would exist for ANY civilization. That any intelligent being would stumble upon the same mathematical truths that underpin the entirety of our universe. Math is the universal language in which any civilization would discover in its quest of knowledge. In the book and movie, prime numbers are used by some advanced civilization to communicate with Earth. Elle...the main character said that prime numbers would be used because mathematics would be the "universal language" of any intelligent being.

Many people argue that Sagan is arguing for intelligent design with his mention of this built in symmetry and order inherent in nature. Many argue that he's arguing against it. Having read all of Sagan's books, I'm inclined to believe he's arguing against it.

If you haven't read the book Contact or seen the movie you should. It allows both believers and doubters room to take something from it.

 

[HerdFan73]

If you haven't read the book Contact or seen the movie you should. It allows both believers and doubters room to take something from it.

The book has always been on my readying bucket list. I love the movie, how does the book compare? Id imagine its much better.

 

[GK4Herd]

It is better than the movie and not because that's what you're suppose to say. Lol. The movie is one of my favorite of all time so that says a lot about the book. All of Sagan's books are great but they're non fictional science type of stuff. Contact is his only attempt at writing a fictional narrative. I like the fact that he allows a voice for faith even though it didn't represent his personal viewpoint.

 

[HerdFan73]

I dont know anywhere near as much about Sagan as I'd imagine you do, but from what Ive seen he seemed to be one of the few people who truly had an open mind in the science/faith debate. Or at least he truly respected the alternate viewpoint vs being the type of person who'd accuse someone religious of "believing in fairy tales."

 

[GK4Herd]

He did the same thing for UFO/alien believers. He clearly was of the thought that there was some kind of explanation for sightings that were being held up as evidence to support that we've been visited. He wasn't buying. But he also provided a forum where he brought together both UFO supporters and scientific non believers to present their argument. There will be no other Carl Sagan. He brought science to the mainstream. He was one of those rare scientist who could explain things in a way that the rest of us could understand it. Neil DeGrasse Tyson does a great job, but he's no Sagan.

If you're considering the book and need a shove, read the following quotes from Contact. I bet it takes you over the edge...


https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2416056-contact

 

[Herdstruck]

"The universe was made on purpose, the circle said. In whatever galaxy you happen to find yourself, you take the circumference of a circle, divide it by its diameter, measure closely enough, and uncover a miracle--another circle, drawn kilometers downstream of the decimal point. There would be richer messages farther in. It doesn't matter what you look like, or what you're made of, or where you come from. As long as you live in this universe, and have a modest talent for mathematics, sooner or later you'll find it. It's already here. It's inside everything. You don't have to leave your planet to find it. In the fabric of space and in the nature of matter, as in a great work of art, there is, written small, the artist's signature. Standing over humans, gods, and demons, subsuming Caretakers and Tunnel builders, there is an intelligence that antedates the universe. The circle had closed. She found what she had been searching for."

Contact - Carl Sagan

...and in Multiple Universes theories...you've already solved it somewhere.

aaand...you've also died reading this sentence as well...

The Many Worlds Theory rejects The Copenhagen Interpretations already unique idea that particles can change their behavior seemingly at will, and replaces it with the much more insane idea (probably just to make your head explode) that the only reason we think particles are changing their behavior is that were only seeing that particles action in one universe, rather than the infinite number of universes that actually exist.

Think of a time when you cross the street...in another universe, you get hit with a car and die. In another, you get hit but survive with a broken leg. In another, you get hit, survive, but burst into flames...