Re: Technical and Spiritual Development

From: William Mook (william.mook_at_mokindustries.com)
Date: 01/24/05 

Date: 24 Jan 2005 05:43:58 -0800

Yeah. I think Bryan is confusing cause and effect. The Greeks and
Romans had the ability to build and use sophisticated machines -

http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1031.htm

And could certainly build something as simple as a Cotton Gin.

What they lacked is the MOTIVATION to build a cotton gin. Why?
Because they saw nothing WRONG with slavery!

See?

The innovations that occured to reduce human labor in the middle of the
19th century were the RESULT of a CHANGE IN FEELING. These innovations
could have occurred at any time in human history, if people were
motivated toward such innovation.

This is what makes the ideas of Sagan so interesting. WHAT IF we could
bring about a change in feeling about death and dying and killing? It
would certainly solve our problem with respect to WMDs and their use.
It would win the war on terror too! But beyond that such a change of
feeling would have far reaching consequences - just as the change in
feeling about slavery had the consequence of causing the invention of
labor reducing equipment.

The end result, as I've argued elsewhere is a vast increase in the
productivity of the human race and consequently a huge improvement in
the level of wealth enjoyed by all.

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