Starting this new web page, August 21, 2023
Updated August 22, 2023
The late Dr Carl Sagan popularized an often quoted saying, but is it valid?, by the SETI Nuggets Editor, August 21, 2023
"Extraordinary Claims Require Extraordinary Evidence" - Carl Sagan
Sagan's meme has become a non-valid shortcut to describe the entire scientific method as it pertains to ET research. Contrary to Dr Sagan's saying, the scientific method encourages non-binary findings that are reported with a less than certain confidence level.
I would instead say this: Extraordinary claims need to be reported with an associated confidence level.
Dr Sagan's meme blocks scientific research by setting a nearly impossible level of evidence.
A Thought Experiment
Fifty boy scouts are walking in the woods and reaching an edge of a meadow they suddenly stop. They see a classic saucer shaped vehicle hovering 20 meters in the air with chaser lights circling the perimeter of the object.
The scouts watch the UAP in disbelief for 20 minutes. They were too startled to use their phones to take pictures. The UAP wobbles in the air then climbs vertically and shoots out of sight. The scouts find a charred circle shape burned into the meadow,
According to many scientists the reported sighting is not scientifically valid.
Some astronomers will trot out weather balloons or optical illusions as the likely explanations of what the scouts saw. Other scientists will suggest science findings need to supply repeatable data or they are not science.
I think the scientific method needs an upgrade. Fifty boy scouts are believable at some level of confidence. Dr Sagan would dismiss the scouts' observations as all-or-none not valid.
Dr Carl Sagan and religion
There is a similarity between how Carl Sagan spoke of amateur ET research, and how he spoke of beliefs in religion.
Religion he summarily ridiculed. Dr Sagan would talk about robes, grey hair beards, residing in the clouds, each religion with creation myths.
Though I agree with Carl Sagan saying there is not enough data in both ET research and religion, I believe the scientific method has multifaceted gaps and Dr Sagan's portrayal of religion is a straw man fallacy.