General Discussion

ElboRuum

(4,717 posts)

20. Terribly naive?

Sun Sep 1, 2013, 01:28 PM

Sep 2013

So the logical end to the argument is to do what?

Know everything?

Not possible. Nor could civilization exist if everyone acts independently.

The reason why civilizations are successful is that we don't all have to knit our own clothes, or grow our own food, or the other myriad of things we would otherwise have to do to survive, which, incidentally, would leave little time for anyone to afford for something as time and knowledge intensive as science and technology.

Science and technology exists BECAUSE people so inclined don't have to spend all of their time growing their own food and searching for water and fashioning their clothes out of whatever hapless beasts wander too close. Because some people decided to do the farming, and others the plumbing, and still others the knitting and the sewing, some people of the right intellectual bent had time to ponder their universe.

They still exist you know. Scientists, engineers, and whatnot. And from what I've seen, there really isn't a shortage of them.

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43 replies

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We live in a society exquisitely dependent ... [View all] Scuba Sep 2013 OP

Du rec. Nt xchrom Sep 2013 #1

"exquisitely dependent" handmade34 Sep 2013 #2

That's funny, sad, and very true. And it's a recipe for massive failure. LuvNewcastle Sep 2013 #3

Actually, it isn't. ElboRuum Sep 2013 #10

Americans certainly don't have to know everything about science and technology but when... BlueJazz Sep 2013 #12

Exactly. LuvNewcastle Sep 2013 #16

But was that really was Carl Sagan was saying in that quote? ElboRuum Sep 2013 #21

It's not that they are lacking in "scientific skills" ElboRuum Sep 2013 #24

Your words are true and wise. BlueJazz Sep 2013 #26

One of the best critiques of the average American's mentality I've read. Thanks! Surya Gayatri Sep 2013 #27

I think that's a terribly naive point of view that mirrors the excuses, and reasons, for slavery. jtuck004 Sep 2013 #14

I agree. LuvNewcastle Sep 2013 #17

Terribly naive? ElboRuum Sep 2013 #20

No, and the logical end isn''t to pose an outlandish and impossible answer, either. jtuck004 Sep 2013 #35

Interesting points. ElboRuum Sep 2013 #41

Interesting how you conflate points just to erect your little scree... jtuck004 Sep 2013 #42

Of course. ElboRuum Sep 2013 #43

The problem here Stargazer09 Sep 2013 #28

Wasn't Neil DeGrasse Tyson ElboRuum Sep 2013 #30

I sure do wish I could believe you, but I have little faith. reusrename Sep 2013 #31

Science does not require faith. ElboRuum Sep 2013 #33

Read the graphic. It doesn't say .... Scuba Sep 2013 #37

That's not how it reads. ElboRuum Sep 2013 #38

k and r--and, sadly, the anti-science, anti-intellectual crowd wants to keep it that way. niyad Sep 2013 #4

Hey, I built that skydive forever Sep 2013 #5

cool! progressoid Sep 2013 #7

I'm jealous! Stargazer09 Sep 2013 #29

It's miracles. Jesus done 'em. nt valerief Sep 2013 #6

How few 'key' people could we lose...... daleanime Sep 2013 #8

We live in a society which expects us to be clothed. ElboRuum Sep 2013 #9

DURec leftstreet Sep 2013 #11

hell yeah pasto76 Sep 2013 #13

We need more STEM majors! LOL reformist2 Sep 2013 #15

I'm okay fadedrose Sep 2013 #18

Sound and pitchers? ElboRuum Sep 2013 #22

beer? fadedrose Sep 2013 #23

You know, I think that's false advertising. ElboRuum Sep 2013 #25

U gotta leave the door open & hang a few baloons fadedrose Sep 2013 #40

It's called SPECIALIZATION, genius. Dreamer Tatum Sep 2013 #19

You could also take the statement at face value: Quantess Sep 2013 #34

True. ElboRuum Sep 2013 #39

there is only a "critical mass" of the specialized knowledge needed... yawnmaster Sep 2013 #32

+1 K&R nt Jasana Sep 2013 #36