The Case for Cosmic Modesty | Abraham (Avi) Loeb | TEDxHarvardCollege

26,443

490 0

Published 2017-12-05

Based on the premise that we are not special, Loeb argues for modesty from a cosmic perspective. His “principle of cosmic modesty” implies that both primitive and intelligent forms of life should exist away from Earth, and we should therefore search for them without prejudice.
Abraham (Avi) Loeb is the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University. He published nearly 600 papers and 4 books which pioneered several new frontiers in astrophysics and cosmology. Loeb serves as Chair of the Department of Astronomy, Founding Director of Harvard's Black Hole Initiative and Director of the Institute for Theory and Computation (ITC) . He also chairs the Advisory Committee for the Breakthrough Starshot Initiative, serves as the Science Theory Director for all Initiatives of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation, and holds the Sackler Senior Professorship by Special Appointment at Tel Aviv University. He is an elected fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, the American Physical Society, and the International Academy of Astronautics, as well as Vice Chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies. Within Harvard, Loeb serves on the President's Task Force on Diversity and Belonging , the FAS Dean's Faculty Resources Committee, and the Provost's Allston Academic Planning Committee. In 2012, TIME magazine selected Loeb as one of the 25 most influential people in space. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

All Comments (21)

@RawLu. 3 years ago

Thank You Avi for Keeping an Open Mind :-)
@andresastudisho 2 years ago

Loeb is incredibly underrated.
@HUIYINGx 2 years ago

Brb while i tattoo this video title somewhere on me. Avi Loeb is a highly underrated scientist, person, lecturer etc… His philosophy on science, academia and life really brings great perspective. So grateful to have chanced upon his podcast with Lex Fridman
@strawberryxoxo6841 3 years ago

I’m fascinated with this man !!!!
@Ak-SOI 3 years ago

26 Feb, happy birthday AVI! ^.^
@HofstraTechTalk 3 years ago

people need to see this 😁
@natybar-yosef9931 4 years ago

omg 2:35 my brain was blueup how i didnt think about it until now lol
@diegosmith3534 5 years ago

I learned about this scientist from Secureteam10.
@rubenanthonymartinez7034 2 years ago

Psalms 8:4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
@bigfootpegrande 3 years ago

What about Oumuamua?!
@coltonsnyder1262 3 years ago

💜💜💜
@equalrightamendmentera5800 2 years ago

Hi sir,how to join in harvard university pls help to me
@captainmarkgray8856 4 years ago

You can speed this video up 1.75 times the normal speed, still understand him and save A LOT of time. Welcome to my parallel universe where I extended my life (by 1.75 times with just this one video alone). Click on the Gear on the "bottom right" of this video, and then "Playback Speed". You are very welcome :-)
@akhandpratapsingh3319 2 years ago

Who's here after Prof. Lewin mentioned him for solving superconducting loop problem
@crowellovecraft7289 4 years ago

he means James Webb will be released in 2090
@BradBaymon 2 months ago

Hello Abraham (Avi) Loeb this is brad of Brad Magic Space do you know where earth is? Send Brad of Brad Magic Space help and assistance to Portland, Oregon. permission to improvise
@ThatsCem 3 years ago

Waterbears.. Anyone thinking of Southpark? :D
@sinayemdiniso2761 2 years ago

This man's witty statements can go toe to toe with Dave Chappelle 😂😂
@tenienteale 3 years ago

why don't he better give the people and us the paper he is reading and like this we could read and re-read and better understand what he is saying... but to put there and read, why?
@esistoedinsisto2387 3 years ago

BLUE BEAM PROGECT