Perspective

The perspective of Pale Blue Dot is that of its author, Carl Sagan. Sagan came of age during the high tide of Western atheism and skepticism. Everyone intelligent wished to be seen as scientific because science was held in such high regard. As such, Sagan has almost the caricature of a scientist's perspective on history, value, religion and truth. He sees history as humanity struggling to evolve to higher forms, and sees science as the primary means through which higher forms of being are achieved.

Sagan's perspective on value is highly humanistic. He sees humanity as having great value but also emphasizes how cruel humans are to one another and how much better it would be if humanity could take a more impartial and global perspective which would show that them they can live in harmony and unity. Sagan also sees ideology, religion and nationalism as fracturing this...