Carl Sagan Pale Blue Dot

The short excerpt from Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space is a deeply enriched text, expressing several strong values and attitudes, as well as offering a very distinct perspective. Sagan effectively urges readers to work towards a better future by preserving the Earth we call our home. This is accomplished through his use of language features utilized in and developing his values and perspective on the Earth, space exploration, science, and humanity as a whole.
The photograph of the Earth is immensely powerful, and Sagan’s comment, describing it as “a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam” succinctly communicates his attitude towards the Earth. It is merely a speck, “a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena.” His use of metaphor illustrates the Earth as insignificant, therefore the
The issue of sustainability is a controversial topic, but Sagan clearly values the protection of the planet. This aligns with environmentalist values, and the fundamental beliefs of certain religions, including Buddhism and Christianity. In particular, Christianity values the world as God’s creation, and many Christians see the Earth as our only home. According to the Bible, many of the wars, disasters and blights upon the world are the result of sin brought upon the world by humanity. The Bible urges that we treat our ‘neighbours’ with love, similarly, Sagan says we should “deal more kindly with one another.” If people do not take care of the Earth and treat their fellow humans with respect the world will rapidly deteriorate. Sagan communicates the selfish nature of humans and the necessity for unity. Those holding similar beliefs will readily agree with this notion of unity. Conversely, it may challenge those who value themselves above all, describing the photo as a “demonstration of the folly of human