(Something i wrote a while ago. At that time i thought it needed polishing. Now i dont see why. Plus its Sunday. How can i not post on a Sunday?)
Imagine a time far far far away. Ahead. Imagine we have survived our own stupidity, imagine the sun did not turn into a red giant, imagine we, or whatever it is we have evolved into, still live on. There is some kind of society, and it engages most people in matters of survival. Let us imagine that that fulfills them, gives them a sense of purpose in life. Imagine that we humans have learnt a lot more about life and the universe but we havent learnt everything. There is still a lot of unknown that beckons.
Now we come to the problem. To go beyond where your forefathers have already gone, you have to get there first. However, the knowledge accumulated over the years is so much that one lifetime is not enough to take it all in. So while the journey is not over, no one lives long enough to get to the starting point.
The question is, will this frustrate just the academic minority or will it affect society as a whole? How much does the majority care about progress, unless it directly makes their life easier? And even then they find something else to complain about. Lack of scientific/philosophical/artistic progress should practically speaking not affect their lives at all. Survival is a full time and extremely fulfilling job for most. How important then is the illusion that we as a species are getting closer to the answers? Even if I as an individual am doing nothing to directly contribute to our getting there, and moving one step closer is in no way going to affect/improve my life. Will academia simply be abolished and everyone concentrate on survival/entertainment? Or will the feeling of purposelessness overwhelm society to such an extent that people would decide to destroy everything and start over, just to have somewhere to get to?
If it came to picking sides, which side would be your good side?
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4 comments:
i have a very bad habit of asking questions instead of giving an answer to the question :-P
>>"So while the journey is not over, no one lives long enough to get to the starting point." <<
interesting point!
the question is, are we really trying to get to the starting point? or are we just happy with what we have and continue building on top of it? as i c it.. we are building layers of abstraction ... each one getting more n more mature & complex. the next generation assumes this abstraction and continues with the finding answers to "newer" questions.
>>"Will academia simply be abolished and everyone concentrate on survival/entertainment?"<<
Unfortunately, thats been the case with most of the population below the poverty line who don't have access to even basic education. not going into the future, isn't this true, already?
>>"people would decide to destroy everything and start over, just to have somewhere to get to?"<<
i wish that never happens. however, in a very rare/strange angle... terrorism can be regarded as some concept emanating from this kinda "frustration" of not being able to do anything worthy. isn't it?
superb!!
the 'one lifetime not enough' thing occured to me sometime back too.. of course you have given it the thought it deserves.. Ashwin brings up a correct point here, we build abstractions and move on.. they recieve a jolt sometimes, like with GR or QM, but more or less it appears to work.. and yes, it might seem that getting closer to 'answers' will not improve our quality of life, but think quantum mechanics and the microelectronics revolution that is a direct outcome of it.. I don't think it's an uncommon pattern..
I don't know if the answer seeking enterprise will be abolished in the future, I sure hope it won't be, but the crucial thing is, do we (the people) understand its importance?
as for survival only, think bacteria.. most able survivors probably..
Ashwin: I do the same thing! Questions are cheap :D
Hmm, abstractions are a good point. What i was thinking was, like it now (supposedly) takes 12 years to teach people the basics, what if someday it takes a lifetime?
And terrorism is exactly the kind of reaction i was thinking of! The unavailability of answers frustrates people at some fundamental level and they take to violence... what dark minds we have!
Mohsin: Thanks! I cannot tell how how impressed i am with myself for getting what GR and QM mean. Yes, i have very low expectations.
You are right, a lot of the benefits of science that have reached the common man have been a side effect of "impractical" science.
You have exactly got the point! Does the common man care?
I can see me writing a disturbing sci-fi book on this and not reading it :D
Kaushik:
1. Good point. You people have convinced me that one lifetime not being enough is not likely. Hmm, i'll have to think of something else that will lead to part 2 then. How about someone coming up with a theory that strongly hints, if not proves, the impossibility of us ever finding the "ultimate answer"?
2. I took the complexity course and i dont know the answer to that. I think you are safe as long as i am.
Art is a good example! Looking at the general attitude towards art, i'm not too hopeful people would care about science unless it directly makes their life easier.
Short story? Someday, maybe.
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