Neil deGrasse Tyson: The 3 Fears That Drive Us to Accomplish Extraordinary Things | Big Think

[@Eurostar710]

Neil deGrasse Tyson is seriously my biggest role model. I just love this man, and he is everything I aspire to be. I really wish people like him would run for president. Get him in office and see how quickly our whole society has a major shift towards a Star Trek like mentality. I dream of a future like the one in Star Trek. Where people aren't driven by greed and hate, rather the advancement of themselves and the advancement of the entire species. No war. No hate. No crime. Everyone just works to better the world around them. There's a quote I love, its a Greek proverb. It goes, "A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in." Our society will only grow great when the people around today work to improve the world for the future. They may not live long enough to see the world blossom into a peaceful loving place but they aren't driven by greed they are driven by love and the hope that their children or their children's children or maybe even further down the line than that, will have a safe and clean and prosperous place to call home. Mr. Tyson is correct, America, and even the world are long overdue for a revolutionary change such as this, and I think most people are ready for it. Thank you for your time and I hope you were able to take something from this.

[@alexcardosa8079]

He would fail. He would have to lie about everything just to get elected. The US Citizen like foolish rhetorics and not plain truths. Women vote against their own better interest, religions people vote thinking their pet God or Gods will be the flavor of the country. Everyone votes out of frustration but without any brains behind it. Good candidates get so few votes that they don't tend to even waste their time doing it again. Habitual liars that is what seem to be what a good chunk of the population wants.

[@KennytheHedgehog619]

Then I hope your excited for the return of COSMOS :D

[@Eurostar710]

I am so so so so excited!!!

[@seyiseyi1582]

Thank you very much

[@seyiseyi1582]

Thank you very much

[@TahRahJoh]

Everything that motivates us revolves around survival. Whether it be survival after the inevitability of death with religion, survival in a war, or survival of a good economy. Our survival needs to be in jeopardy for a massive change.

[@MrHamzarstar]

+TahRahJoh That is because humans still need to change their state of mind from surviving to living. We're still engaged in this rat race ever since the Industrial Revolution.

[@TahRahJoh]

+Hamza Khan i feel like it's a little more to it than that. we have a long ways to go in evolution. we still have brain farts when we try to take in too much info and a lot of illnesses can kill us unless our bodies develop a way to produce all sorts of antibodies

[@jamesrobinson949]

Tyson Kaku 2020 Who's with me?

[@nicholaswhyte9442]

they're better scientists, than politicians

[@MicheleCantwell]

You don't have to be a politician anymore to be president. Or even close.

[@AuctioneerElite]

Mr. Bob Gray I’m all in on that ticket!

[@malakautube]

He may talk about America, but it's about reinventing humanity

[@kjekelle96]

Yes very true indeed. But I think he knows, and you might also know, that America could be an example for other countries. And this is what it's about, or at least this is what I believe Neil wants, America to be an example. Of course this is applicable to all other countries but since America has such a great influence on the West, and the West has such a great influence on the rest of the world, it would be quite a good start. :)

[@kjekelle96]

Also maybe it's not so much about reinventing humanity as it's about reinventing our very thought patterns, which may not really be that different but I believe the root of our problems and the meme of our solutions can be found in our ways of thinking. E.g. in the bible (I'm not the conventional religious person, more of a spiritual/philosophical scientist, don't worry :) it is said that first there was the word (which we can link to mind), and the word was made flesh (which we can link to form). So basically what this says is that our thought patterns translate into matter/form, or our thoughts matter. (I have some trouble explaining this because I'm not a native English speaker but I think you get the point). What are your thoughts on this? I'm curious. And any other people, perhaps?

[@cavalrycome]

There is another driver that has the potential to get large projects done, but it only has that potential in the information age, so a historical overview is likely to miss it. If you think about the number of people and hours that have gone into writing the articles on Wikipedia, you will soon realize that the scale of this project is much greater than possibly any undertaking in human history, including things like the building of the pyramids or the Apollo program. Wikipedia has its problems, but its existence says a lot about what is possible without economic incentives, or threats of force, or the "praise of deity or royalty". The open source software that runs almost every internet server on the planet is a very similar example. So what is the driver in these cases? It may be a combination of things, the pleasure of finding things out, the desire to share, an obsessive need to correct what is incorrect, or various idiosyncratic reasons particular to each of the individuals involved. It's almost beside the point what it is because it's power comes not from the strength of the drive but from the connectedness we have in the information age. It only takes one person to have some reason - it doesn't matter what - for contributing to a Wikipedia article for absolutely everyone to benefit from it. With 3D printing and further advances down the path toward 'universal constructors', this collaborative open source phenomenon has the potential to branch out into the physical world and conceivably to projects like Mars missions, all without economic incentives.

[@gandewarahary7226]

A very good point, one that of course capitalists, socialists and other protectors of the classical hierarchies do not want to hear. It threatens their power and beliefs. However as for internet ,the bad side is that it will contain anything . Loads of anything. Including the propaganda from those who are against open source, and against sharing information, against progress etc. In Scandinavia they recently jailed one of the Pirate bay founders. It has spread some viruses, made some people lose money ,ok, but it has still been a very important natural push to lower prices on markets as well as increasing youngsters' view of the importance of sharing something directly, not through the 'tax" that money puts on all actitivity. So it is not enough to just have the internet. We need something much more and thorough. Like replacing the monetary hierachies with an efficient moneyless system using all accumulated resources available to us today in a better way.

[@cavalrycome]

***** I know you're responding to Gandewa Rahary, but my original point was that you only need a tiny proportion of people to have a sharing mindset for everyone to benefit in the information age, which is why things like Wikipedia and open source software have been so successful. A tiny _proportion_ is still a very large _number_ of people when we're talking about the population of the entire planet, so this could drive enormous collaborative projects even if the majority of people are not sharers and feel entitled to exclusive financial gains for their work.

[@reynahpets7868]

cavalrycome Though you have highlighted some additional examples of "drivers", those altruistic drivers will never work for the physical aspects of a Mars project because to create a Wikipedia page on a topic/subject doesn't cost "anything" other than one's free time & electricity. I'll bet that the level of education & skill necessary to "help" a Mars project just over the internet is probably so highly specialized that the "willingness" of masses of people would not help. So, what you say is fine....as long as the people don't have to get off their ass & actually build anything.

[@cavalrycome]

Rey Nahpets The level of education and skill required to produce open source software is also far from trivial, but despite this, there are evidently enough people around who have the necessary skills and desire to contribute to these kinds of projects with the result that this software runs basically every network, and every web and mail server on the planet. MacOS and Android are also both built on open source software. It's pervasive. There are also vast numbers of mechanical engineers in the world. Coupled with 3D printing and other advances in manufacturing processes that could take most of the labor out of it (universal constructors being the logical end point), I don't find it remotely implausible that a Mars mission could be accomplished this way at some point in the future.

[@reynahpets7868]

cavalrycome Again, you're only addressing a small part, & might I say, the easiest part of a Mars project - what would need to be done on computer/internet. 3D printing is getting better & as for the actual building & manufacture of the required parts & systems I agree nothing is impossible. But again, it would require resources & tangible materials that "cost" time & money to either dig up from the Earth. Unless, some corporation, multi-trillionaire, or thousands of people donated such specific material or worked for free to obtain it.....I don't see it happening.

[@joebrady4101]

this man is brilliant

[@ammarsiddiqui3602]

That's true very true

[@hibiscusflower5911]

I've only watched 50 seconds, I had to pause because I wanted to completely understand and take in the awesomeness of it all. I think I have a crush on Neil deGrasse Tyson because he says the coolest things ever.

[@icyburger]

dude i think im turning gay for Neil Degrasse Tyson

[@alexman24893]

icyburger Once you go Black

[@wilmer89]

We don't want you back.

[@KnightBiologist]

I think it would be an extraordinary thing to tackle climate change, species extinction, and nuclear weapons proliferation, truly the most important issues of our time. Dr. Carl Sagan inspired action, for me, when he said that the two biggest threats to life on this planet were global warming and nuclear weapons. He backed this up with his body and mind when he got arrested at the Nevada Test site for protesting the nuclear weapons tests (in the 1980's). If he were alive today, he'd be on the frontline fighting our fossil fuel addiction and building the alternatives. Dr. Tyson speaks of the motivations of governments but I think it's the accumulated actions of individuals taking extra-ordinary action that really lead to improvement in the human condition.

[@AvangionQ]

If economics is our only remaining driver for starting a new space race, there's a simple solution: first to mine a metal-rich asteroid wins ... asteroids have more precious metals than all of the wealth found on the surface of earth, so the country that completes that task first will become ludicrously more wealthy than all the other nations combined ... if that sounds unfair, perhaps it'll be a joint venture ... - I'd wager the simplest way to do that would be to park a spaceship next to an asteroid, gravitationally attract it into a geosynchronous orbit, then send the mining ships ...

[@kev3d]

They are working on it. One company that comes to mind is Planetary Resources. I don't know how far along any of that stuff is, but it's pretty interesting.

[@jarvensucksballslolo]

Well then people are just gonna compete over the asteroid belts.

[@EvelynNdenial]

nasa is planning on capturing an small asteroid

[@AvangionQ]

pvtblue Got an info link for that? Sounds like a world changing event in the making.

[@EvelynNdenial]

its a long way off and no official plans are drawn up just the idea and the motivation, just google it and you'll probs find a couple links

[@alexshi8583]

I think curiosity is the biggest driver.

[@alexcardosa8079]

Its a big drive but not one that would have anyone putting massive amount of wealth behind it. At least in the USA we are having problems fixing our bridges and roads, fixing our education system. So imagine billions for exploration. I go with him, if we can't exploit like a parasite something out there, the money will dry up quickly. Small endeavor of course we will continue to do, but large leaps are not going to happen any time soon. Lets just hope in the next decade we don't go backwards rather than forward. History is full of that also.

[@natemorris344]

There are solutions to all problems out there its just a matter of what people are willing to do to solve them.

[@OmegaZzzZzz]

***** and willing to share the solution

[@nesteru15]

SURVIVAL is the biggest driver. Today and for the next 50 years we are "just fine", so people don't feel like giving a fuck about almost anything. Yes it is sad but is true.

[@mrawsomecoolguy123]

we all wish it was but it's all about the money :(

[@TheMclarissa]

We should not forget the arts and why they MUST be involved in such a grand Trek endeavor. Art is and will be part of communication that transcends cultural and language barriers. It is also a way to give every day meaning to huge gaps of time and to therapeutically channel negativity.

[@nozerty]

Not to mention the affect this would have on the humanities. The outpouring of literature and art that emerged from the prospect of discovering a new world was phenomenal. I can't imagine what types of culture would emerge in these new societies that we establish on mars, nor the the human impact it would have on the arts. It would be amazing to see, and might just strike the spark that adds another crowning achievement to our species' capacity to express what makes us human.

[@alex29443]

Well, he missed an important point - it wasn't just promise of economic return that drove the colossal European exploration era - it was promise of economic return *greater than their enemies* - ie it was still a fundamentally warlike endeavor - whoever had the best maps, pilots and ships (in this same period there was massive investment in ship technology) controlled trade and so controlled wealth and so could afford the largest and best armies (there was no govt. borrowing back then). The business of government has always been violence, it's gained quite a thick veneer of other various projects but violence has always been (and unless there's a dramatic sea change, always will be) the core of government business (all over the world).

[@truvak]

Show me the moneeeeeeeeeeeeey!... in Mars :3

[@IronReef77]

I don't believe in fear but the 3 things that motivate me is 1) The realization of Life itself and the possibilities when I'm high. I sober up and get to work 2)Money 3)Beautiful woman Of course family but that's a given right??

[@IronReef77]

***** I'm not interested in believing it. Though I'm still cautious, never afraid

[@americanrevival5012]

Neil nailed it again! Neil and several other scientists are the only reason I subbed to big think. More Neil, more Neil!

[@jackwheeler27]

I really don't like the development of our modern "religion of progress." Sure, engineers and scientists are great, but the way this guy talks about them--as if we could never have enough--is a bit alarming. There's a very important other half of this discussion I wish he had touched upon: namely, about specifically why it is necessary to facilitate "the next big transformation." I'm certainly not saying that such a thing might not ultimately benefit mankind, but the idea (perhaps dogma) that history is simply a grand upward trajectory of progress and development really encourages us not to reflect, in a more humanistic way, on our current circumstances but instead pushes us primarily to just keep on "stoking the furnace" of some grand industrial-scientific vehicle that will somehow deliver us to a "better" future. I argue that one cannot become so direly hung-up about the means to sustaining life without also becoming seriously invested in the question of what it is to embody a meaningful, human existence-lest one seriously start to loose one's humanity.

[@Aquaneos1193]

The problem with your statement is that helping the starving population by giving them free clothes and food doesn't solve anything (its temporary). The reason those people are in such terrible poverty is because they have terrible/unstable governments. The only people who can fix these unstable governments is the people themselves. They must go through the process of change and advancement on their own. Our influence won't mean a damn thing until they can control themselves and elect proper officials who actually want to help the poor of their country. Mean while stable governments will continue on their path for a quick buck which is why Space Exploration is getting the short end of the stick these days. People like you and people like me who believe Space Exploration will pay off both lose. We're not so different after all.

[@420xHustlerxB0SS]

Turning a blind eye to those in pain only to spread our willful ignorance a few inches further into the cosmos is simply asinine.

[@Aquaneos1193]

***** I know I'm very late to this comment but I just wanted to say that agree with you. I have never supported the idea of America interfering in other countries'growth/conflict, and I'm American. I believe that unstable countries need to grow and improve on their own because like I said before, its all about the people.

[@alexcardosa8079]

***** Yeah lots of people forget that instability in other countries is made possible by the United States meddling in their systems when they where not unstable.

[@milky1234123]

This man and bill nye are by far the biggest influences in my life and why i am a physicist from childhood these great men have taught me many things and thanks to them i am what i am today becasue of them.

[@t3tsuyaguy1]

Right? His and Neil's videos are the only one's I end up watching multiple times.

[@TheHaters112]

So its all about America. What about the world? What about a better future for everyone?

[@Sam-gy3ok]

To Americans, America is the world

[@treebles]

unfortunately, thats what most of us are taught to believe. ✌🏼🌎 #oneworldonepeople #usuallyembarrassedbymyculture

[@rozzerallen]

It will be a tragedy if homo sapiens spends billions of dollars, euros, pounds or yen doing this while there are people dying of malnourishment on this planet. I'm very positive about scientific endeavour but surely we should utilise this to fix the problems already evident to us before exploratory missions? Although these excursions undoubtedly fascinating, given their context, they'd be pretty damn inhuman.

[@DOTA2FroggyStyle]

There is direct benefit to improving our lives through space exploration though. Medicine alone has been massively improved just through the creation of the MRI which was a spinoff from NASA. It is an uninformed view to believe that the bridging of all these fields of science will not help us here - as they already have.

[@DOTA2FroggyStyle]

Just sit and think about what you would have to do in the fields of robotics, fuel efficiency, and computer programming to even get a shuttle to Mars (not even necessarily land). All of that ingenuity directly benefits us in ways we can't comprehend until we get there.

[@robertjohansson7861]

DOTA2FroggyStyle Just think about all the research about sustainablility and selfsufficency that might be useful for ppl here.

[@rozzerallen]

Robotics, fuel efficiency, and computer programming have neither fed nor watered the impoverished in a long time. I'm not saying that science wouldn't help us and am well aware that technological advances have come as a product NASA. I just think the hierarchy needs rethinking, let's fix humanity before doing something as excessive/ethically profitless as spending billions going to Mars.

[@robertjohansson7861]

Rory Allen I don't know much about the distribution of food, energy and water but i know agriculture is improving a lot due to technology. Since a space station might be regarded as a "closed" system i would think there will be a lot of thought into circular living regarding production/evironment/waste that might be relevant to us. Also the production of components(3d printing) might be developed further if it is to be used at spececrafts. These thing would be directly usefull in a more decentralized and eco friendly way of living for us here on earth.

[@meetdavidothespy]

Reinvent the world. Not just America. Any ambitious project should have the world behind it, not just one part of it. Especially when it comes to anything beyond our planet.

[@elektrathunderwolf5731]

I believe that happiness and quality of life alone do not matter, rather it is the understanding of the contrast between happiness and misery, the extremes, that enable us to enjoy life. If everyone's quality of life were to improve, wouldn't the overall perceived happiness stay the same?

[@000JP]

I love Neil, but I think his idea needs a tweak. People don't need danger or material return to get motivated. Look at what the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation has accomplished, look at the Ubuntu project, look at Olympic athletes. Clearly people are inspired by the concept of greatness. Even Neil could surely have picked a different line of work if he was only concerned about wealth and longevity. If colonizing mars was awesome enough, people would make it happen, even without a financial return on their investment. The problem is, the cost currently outweighs the awesome. Costs need to drop, and interest needs to increase.

[@travisfrazier3407]

He clarified in the video its not just a single/few people to "greatness". He's talking "the most expensive and ambisious" projects.

[@000JP]

Considering that the Gates' foundation has spent ~$30 Billion, I think it qualifies as an expensive project. Scale isn't really the issue anyways, the fact is that people work hard for things without expecting a financial return.

[@travisfrazier3407]

Jacob Robinson  The Gates foundation spends it on many different things. Its multiple projects, even still put that up against the amount it cost to go to the moon. Adjusted for inflation the price of going to the moon was $136 billion. Trust me, I understand that many people do great things, but the kind of funds need to go to the moon (or even mars in this case) isn't going to be gathered outta just a desire to do great things. This is the cost of the MOST expensive projects.

[@marsh84722]

space is dumb, anything remotely interesting is too far away to travel to. Let's just forget about it.

[@FestasGoParty]

That kind of mentality stops progress. There's many theories that state that you can bend the fabric of space and time to travel long distances. What seems impossible now may be possible in the future, just as the computer you use today would seem like witchcraft a few hundred years ago.

[@marsh84722]

ok let's figure that out here on earth then we'll talk about it

[@FestasGoParty]

marsh84722 That's better! Never assume something is impossible (: Scientific progress is growing exponentially with the technologies of today and we can accomplish many extraordinary things. By the end of the century we'll probably be mini-gods. The future is an exciting place!

[@manictiger]

marsh84722 Might need to be tested in space. Warping anywhere near Earth's gravity well could be catastrophic.

[@icyburger]

i smell a troll dont feed the troll guys NEVER FEED A FUCKING TROLL.

[@MsPinecone123]

So glad my daughter is a STEM student. I have hope for her and her peers. So glad they have NDT as their cheerleader.

[@RolrunNer]

I'm ripe, ready, and willing for Neil deGrasse Tyson!

[@Yarblocosifilitico]

There's just one 'driver': POWER. Through religion, through money, through wathever...

[@arminalbertvogl6932]

Neil, speechless and yet I feel the need to thank you for sharing your wisdom.. Thank You.....

[@MicheleCantwell]

I think a lot of the comments are missing the point of the economic returns. He's not saying to go space to find resources (though that could be part of it). He's saying having such a mission drives the economy. It creates jobs in fields that are proven to increase the quality of the education and income of a nation's citizens. It is the same model and outcome from the 1960s, when the space race with Russia created STEM jobs, and boosted marketing jobs by providing a unified vision of "tomorrow" (as he outlines in another book or video, they all blend together at one point.) We marketed everything about the future, "the home of tomorrow, the food of tomorrow, the microwave of tomorrow" and we designed cars to look like rocket ships. It is the same model as Eisenhower's interstate system, creating jobs around a large national project, or Teddy Roosevelt's national parks system. It CREATES an economy, not that we simply explore to find out of Mars is full of oil.

[@magnusbjarnisk]

Entertainment is a great motivator. Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist not because it pays his bills, but because it is something he enjoys and is interested in. The problem is getting people to get interested (and therefor entertained by) in scientific fields. And one of the solutions to that problem is getting teachers that can inspire their students.

[@akeemjames2409]

Neil Degrasse is the man

[@Liamv4696]

*sees Neil in thumbnail* *immediately drops everything and opens video immediately* *listens intently* More Neil!

[@lolyband]

Neil is the reason I opened this videos

[@mattgring]

Science is science, belief is belief. The two should not be mixed. People one one side or another throwing comments at each other are both ignorant.

[@sebastianwatkins3858]

The world could use alot more Neil.

[@Deidde]

"Reinventing America" sounds like revolutionary talk! It's likely high time, too.

[@viviano4]

This is pretty much a condensed version of his commencement speech to the Rice University class of 2013. I love it.

[@desertrunner9569]

Embrace space. When we run out of resources where else can we go?

[@SNEAKYSNAKE777X]

I knew I forgot to say something about his hair. How could you not like that either? It's super clean!

[@iamsyrex]

Unite the people and bring to the same understanding. Broadcast this video on all channels on public television. People unite to come together to buy commercial time on TV to have more like minded individuals to come together and we will be unstoppable.

[@Murphys_Law9]

Him and kaku the reason I watch this channel

[@falsy69]

hell yes I'm with you alex we need more neil, and in general any scientist explaining the benefits and incentives of embracing the world of science

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

BT, Neil didn't say fear, fears or afraid in this whole video. What he said was drivers. Fear is a kind of driver, but not all drivers are fears. If I were to translate these as fears, he'd be saying fear of gods, fear of the rich, fear of the powerful, fear of war, fear of death, fear of poverty. Personally I don't think fear is something, specifically, that should be used as a way to motivate people. A healthy understanding will yield far more appreciative results than those done out of fear.

[@SNEAKYSNAKE777X]

I want to know who the 60 people who disliked the video were, because you're obviously against the advancement of civilization as a whole. You know what scratch that because they're probably some bigot/ignorant fool who disliked because Neil's different or because he thinks outside the box. The world NEEDS more people like this man!

[@koprfox9026]

He's using space as an example . His point was what drives us to be daring , what makes us EVOLVE past expectation without fear of risk and expenses . Those that would seed a space endeavor would be in the categories of people that take society furthest in achieving a relative milestone. If you can understand what it took to get human society to the 21st floor , Realize that he is talking about what it takes to build the next

[@BadAxeEntertainment]

I saw this guy on TV he's a really cool guy and makes these subjects easy to understand

[@ZandaaaaXD]

So basically, the 3 fears are: 1) fear of dieing (death) 2) fear of dying alone or without reason (religion) 3) fear of dying poor or without accomplishments (economic return) Sounds right to me. . .

[@2girls1coop]

I really enjoyed this video because it reaffirmed my belief as to why I am pursuing a degree in Chemical Engineering. I am not really quite sure what I want to be when I grow up, but a degree of such rigor will never be turned away. That being said, I want to become an engineer because I feel like it is my service to humanity to gain as much wisdom as I can so that I may discover and communicate such wisdoms both old and new. To reach into space, I am of the indication that we must take care of home first. There are a lot of problems here on Earth that need to be tended too: World Hunger, Disease, Mediocre Education, Lack of Morale, etc... I think everyone, of every race, ethnicity and gender, should pursue a field of science personally. I understand that the wealth gap is increasing, but I dont know anyone who can't get financial aid and/or loans. I also understanf that the education system is "flawed" to an extent. Maybe in High School education, but in College I think it is 100% fair. Sure, maybe High School didn't teach you how to work in College, but is it really the High Schools fault you didn't choose to take advanced classes or do extracurricular activities? Who's fault is it that people decide to watch shit television and proceed to engage in nonintellectual activities time and time again? If we had an educated society of scientists, then there's no economic crisis, legal/political/diplomatic issue, or biological phenomenon that we, as a Society, can not overcome.

[@ericday4505]

A you tube legend and a fool to boot.

[@bruisednoggin7301]

To quote a great and late man... "until you change how money works you change nothing."

[@user-dm6fs3te6p]

Neil for 2020 as president !!!

[@dondanielortiz]

I agree with your premise and support your conclusion but I fear, in the age of social media and the preoccupation of our youth with their "selfie", our society is not able to the task. How many kids today are interested in engineering, math, science, etc.?

[@kenzo6620]

And Bill Nye, but this channel is mostly about learning, so almost all these videos are really good

[@eulusgarza5765]

Indeed, the question is "Is it courage or fear what compels you ?"

[@DiegoGarcia-mf7sq]

Neil, I promise that you would win the Presidency of this country because you have the two things Washington lacks right now: Intelligence and a vision for the future! Thanks for inspiring me to study a STEM field. I've started, and I love it, and I have never regretted this decision. I only wish that you can inspire others to do the same.

[@deathceol88]

He's right in many ways, let's reinvent ourselves through math, science, and space frontiers to travel to the cosmos!

[@nat0106951]

I Always Learned a lot more whenever I hear him answer questions.

[@MrPlausibleDenial]

I am so glad Tyson exists.

[@zantetsu75]

Agreed there, though that also ultimately stems from the root drive of Boredom (or stress depending on the substance).

[@Crimsonfangg]

I was just thinking about this yesterday. How we pay movie and sports stars millions while the people who are actually trying to drive humanity forward don't even get 6 figures.

[@G_G251]

"Only when science and technology are used with human concern, in a world in which all of the earth's resources are held as the common heritage of all of the earth's people, can we truly say that there is intelligent life on Earth." ~ Jacque Fresco

[@Moozig]

Stephen Fry is one of the kindest, most empathetic, brightest people I know. I am sorry, but I doubt that I could say the same about you.

[@fLcGambit]

i don't think you can get cooler than this gentlemen right here

[@Olando89]

Binge watching Neil before bed time.

[@SuicidelG]

I enjoy the fact that he can explain this while being clearly high as hell.

[@vaprex]

Love his sarcastic expression @2:24

[@lordofedges6487]

Well, diamonds are made of carbon which is common. Platinium and gold are elements, and we cannot currently realistically create elements.

[@knowledgeambition8696]

Why aren't there more people like him? I'm just sick of everyone around me, who only care about their iphones, and I think i will become like them eventually. That is just how i feel.

[@WVitoMontone]

Keep sharing!!

[@mattjohnson714]

To add on to this: essentially there needs to be some common ground...some common direction in order to accomplish things together at the largest scale. Of course the three categories he says are all right. Money, safety, god. But if u are a curious mind it is worth it to note that they are all accomplishing the same thing: creating a common direction. Boiled down...this is what is needed.

[@-cosmicrogue-]

You deserve a medal for your witty response :)

[@Naiuhz]

Well that is the use of fears to motivate us, what about dreams and goals? A whole lot of us want to explore space simply because we don't know enough about it and would like to explore the unknown.

[@fergfighter]

Always worth watching a Neil video, good content guys, keep it up - I always hope you'll get Stephen Fry back at some point

[@R3l3ntl3sss]

Neil deGrasse Tyson for President!!!!!

[@dentalfloss7042]

You are more enlightening that any other role model I have seen today, best of wishes to you.

[@roubian420]

I always have time to hear what Neil has to say

[@lellure]

I watched this about 8 times. Definitely inspiring.

[@trojax44]

This guy should have been president, he sounds full of ambition and promise just like Obama did, then just let us down when the world needed him....

[@magicmonkeyking4137]

vodka and milk would make a white russian. and those drinks are fucking good. if made right.

[@trojax44]

***** What's up? don't you detect sarcasm?

[@dougrattmann9240]

A scientist and a poet, Tyson is the perfect person to march on the Carl Sagan flame and legacy.

[@Joel11111]

I think passions most start in people when they are young. Neil deGrasse Tyson is a perfect example of this. He often talks about how his life changed when he visited the planetarium as a kid and how ever since then he has wanted to be an astrophysicist. Also, your mental abilities don't really decline as you age. As long as you use your brain to learn new things all the time and don't get stuck in the "usual daily routine", your brain is able to learn and grow new neural networks.

[@ChristopherMertin]

Diamonds are one of the most common gems, plus we can grow them. Gold is pretty rare, with 99% of all gold on Earth being dissolved in the ocean, and gold is also very much important in electronics. Lower prices means better and cheaper electronics. Faster technological growth. And it can't be of unknown materials or else there wont be that economic drive since we won't know what it is. Plus, since gold is softer, makes them easy to kill without ruining much of the metal.

[@PsychedelicTragedy]

Powerful Neil deGrasse Tyson!

[@BecauseWeCanTheChannel]

I love this man more.

[@Exile_Sky]

I love the optimism Mr. Tyson. Hope I see such an Earth even starting before I draw my last breaths.

[@emmagraceling]

I would argue that the first two boil down to the fear of death. The reason humans praise deities or royalty is because they fear dying by royalty and they want a more comfortable afterlife by praising deities.

[@therealjordiano]

this guy... really a great inspiration to all

[@KarenDian1]

As always, Neil is amazing! As a planet, we need to focus more on space exploration and the sciences, if we are to move forward.

[@LogicalThinker667]

Carl Sagan was the pothead, but smoking with these men would be the most mind blowing experience imaginable

[@Niosus]

It's not about the life or whatever we find there. It's about the cultural difference and the cold hard science that is needed to get us there. Trying to go to Mars leads to innovation, more jobs, more kids being interested in science getting better education. The economy, power and stability of a country is directly correlated with its technological and educational level. Investing in science and technology is always useful.

[@barneymercer1300]

Sadly, curiosity tends to take a back seat when fear is involved

[@barneymercer1300]

That's one very big umbrella statement for all the religions in the world and the billions of people that follow them...

[@johnbright7518]

In response to your second comment that you withheld: You're right, the decision would be irrational if the person making the decision was aiming for economic return... as it stands today. But "faith" was the wrong word I used; substitute in "attainable cogent reasoning" and you'll see that the other drivers have this easily attainable cogent reasoning that is needed to gain support for the decision of getting you to first fund/build/set a goal towards accomplishing something grandiose.

[@StFuzz]

“It's now very common to hear people say, 'I'm rather offended by that.' As if that gives them certain rights. It's actually nothing more... than a whine. 'I find that offensive.' It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. 'I am offended by that.' Well, so fucking what.” -Stephen Fry

[@barneymercer1300]

Fair point, but I think that what he's getting at is the motive for beginning and following through an expensive feat rather than how those tasks were made possible. When it comes to space exploits like going to Mars, convincing the debt ridden governments that we live in that it is a good idea is a large feat indeed, and I think that's the bridge he is crossing by exploring what motives drive societies to do epic things, rather than how they are achieved, which follows through later.

[@VGpeter15]

The fear death is what motivates every human being do anything.The fear of death inspires the will to gain money to overcome situations that might hurm the person.The fear of death inspires the will of a person to kill-eliminate his rivals and keads into war.The fear of death inspires people want to create so to be remembered after they die.The fear of death inspires the will to reproduce and leeds into the feeling of falling in love as well as loving people that we dont want them to die.

[@ragreynolds]

Merely talking to this man would be an amazing thing to do.

[@barneymercer1300]

Although some would see it as merely an achievement, this could be more of a matter of escape. Escape of recourse starvation (imagine is Mars had valuable resources that we could use to prevent electricity running out) and escape of overpopulation (if we could build civilizations on Mars, Earth becoming too crowded with humans could be postponed greatly.)

[@DJGMT11]

i knew war was going to be one of them as neil began talking! awesome i feel great right now :) great video by the way