Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization

Tyson notes the current lack of a space-focused legal system, and he posits that laws are “prerequisites” for society because they prevent humans from acting instinctually. Justice systems have included those presided over by someone in charge, religious trials by combat or ordeal, trial by judges examining evidence during the pre-scientific era, public trials susceptible to groupthink and mobs, and trial by a jury of peers. While a trial by a jury of peers appears fair in theory, modern lawyers are rewarded for emotionally manipulating the jury. Such manipulation is taught through debate clubs, in which topics are divided into two sides and the most convincing participant wins. Political representatives generally have legal education, meaning that they are trained to use emotional manipulation rather than more objective thinking patterns. Tyson has been removed from potential jury pools multiple times; the first time, he was removed after explaining that he taught a course on evidence evaluation at Princeton. In his second call, he was removed after he asked the judge why he said the defendant was charged with the possession of “1,700 milligrams” rather than “1.7 grams” of cocaine, “which is less than the weight of a dime” (171).