Harari-Part IV-The Scientific Revolution-Sapiens-A-Brief-History-of-Humankind

Page 1

The Atomic Bomb Detonation

• Date and Time: Alamogordo, 16 July 1945, 05:29:53.

• Significance: Marked the first detonation of an atomic bomb.

• Robert Oppenheimer's Quote: Upon witnessing the explosion, he quoted the Bhagavadgita: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." This reflects the profound moral and philosophical implications of the creation of nuclear weapons.

Page 2

The Discovery of Ignorance

• Hypothetical Scenario: A Spanish peasant from AD 1000 wakes up 500 years later and finds the world familiar due to static political and social structures.

• Contrast with Columbus’ Era: Columbus's sailors would be astounded by modern technology, highlighting the drastic changes over 500 years.

• Population and Economic Growth:

  • 1500: ~500 million Homo sapiens; present: 7 billion.

  • Economic output increased from ~$250 billion to ~$60 trillion today (240-fold increase).

  • Daily caloric consumption: increased from ~13 trillion to 1,500 trillion calories (115-fold increase).

• Modern Comparisons: A modern battleship could easily destroy Columbus’s fleet, illustrating dramatic advancements in technology and military power.

Page 3

Urban Living Conditions Compared

• Medieval Cities: Most inhabitants lived in buildings made of mud, wood, and straw, with no common structure over three stories.

• Transportation and Noise: Cities were filled with pedestrian and animal traffic, characterized by dirt streets and candlelight at night.

• Circumnavigation: Magellan's expedition in 1522 achieved the first circumnavigation of the Earth; by the 20th century, it became a common journey.

Page 4

Scientific Achievements and Human Understanding

• Moon Landing: 20 July 1969 marked human landing on the moon, a significant evolutionary milestone.

• Microorganisms Discovery: Anton van Leeuwenhoek first observed microorganisms in 1674, leading to advances in understanding health and disease.

• Atomic Bomb Detail: Explains the complexities arising from scientific revolutions leading to powerful and potentially destructive discoveries.

Page 5

Science and Human Capability

• Scientific Revolution: Encompasses a collective shift in belief regarding the possibility of acquiring new powers via scientific research.

• Historical Context: Prior to AD 1500, rulers invested in preserving knowledge rather than creating new capabilities, primarily through religious and philosophical support.

• Investment in Science: Increased belief in scientific inquiry led to substantial funding for research by governments and wealthy patrons.

Page 6

Characteristics of Modern Science

• Admitting Ignorance: Modern science emphasizes acknowledging what we do not know and allows theories to be challenged.

• Role of Observation and Mathematics: Scientific endeavors rely upon empirical observation and mathematical validation to create comprehensive theories.

• Dynamic Nature of Knowledge: Unlike premodern traditions that viewed knowledge as fixed, modern scientific knowledge is viewed as tentative and open to revision.

Page 7

Ignorance in Historical Context

• Premodern Knowledge Systems: Knowledge was thought to be absolute and given by divine or ancient wisdom.

• Current Scientific Perspective: Modern scientific inquiry is animated by curiosity and willingness to question established truths.

Page 8

The Dynamics of Knowledge

• Challenges in Scientific Agreement: The scientific community constantly debates and revises theories in light of new evidence.

• Debates in Economics: Similarly, economics is filled with competing theories that evolve with evidence.

Page 9

Science and Society

• Acceptance in Society: Nowadays, society often relies on science to make collective decisions, yet most positive shared myths face scrutiny.

• Ignoring Science for Stability: Some adherent ideologies dismiss scientific uncertainty by proclaiming absolute truths.

Page 10

Scientific Methodology

• No Dogma in Science: Modern science operates without fixed beliefs, focusing instead on empirical evidence and mathematical models.

• Precedence of Empirical Evidence: When empirical observations clash with traditional knowledge, modern science favors the data.

Page 11

Historical Advances in Science

• Newtonian Physics: Isaac Newton's mathematical principles revolutionized our understanding of motion and change in nature.

• Advancements Post-Newton: Theories of relativity and quantum mechanics arose due to exceptions found in Newton’s laws.

Page 12

Role of Statistics in Science

• Development of Actuarial Science: Acts as the foundation for understanding demographic trends and predicting probabilities in various fields.

• Historical Example: Alexander Webster and Robert Wallace's work established actuarial principles that led to modern insurance models.

Page 13

Foundations of Modern Demography

• Predictive Models: Probability theories helped shape various disciplines and have become essential in social sciences.

• Statistical Reliance: Mathematics has increasingly been integrated into fields traditionally viewed as humanities.

Page 14

Challenges with Scientific Understanding

• Complexity of Science: The mathematical language of modern science often appears inaccessible to the general public.

• Prestige of Scientific Knowledge: Despite complexity, science holds significant respect in society due to its tangible benefits.

Page 15

Historical Context of Science and Technology

• Separation prior to Scientific Revolution: Science and technology evolved independently until integrated in modern history.

• Funding for Research: Until the 19th century, funding for research was often scarce and primarily aimed at preserving existing knowledge.

Page 16

World Wars and Military Science

• Military Advancements in WWI and WWII: Both wars prompted scientific communities to develop new military technologies, such as aircraft and bombs.

Page 17

Technological Epistemology

• US Nuke Development: In response to threats, scientific advancements in nuclear power were prioritized and ultimately led to decisive military actions.

Page 18

Historical Military Strategies

• Emphasis on Organization: Historically, advancements in military strategy often overshadowed technological improvements, contributing to empires’ rise and fall.

Page 19

Interconnection of Science and Capitalism

• Emergence of Military-Industrial Complex: The Industrial Revolution linked science, industry, and military power, altering historical trajectories.

Page 20

Ideals of Progress

• Shift in Worldviews: Pre-Scientific Revolution cultures viewed the past as superior, but modern ideology transformed humanity's relationship with knowledge and improvement.

Page 21

Poverty and Technological Solutions

• Modern Views on Poverty: Technological solutions to poverty are increasingly viewed as attainable, with historical developments overcoming many obstacles.

Page 22

The Quest for Immortality

• Death as a Technical Obligation: Modern perspectives view death not as fateful but as a challenge to be scientifically addressed.

Page 23

Cultural Shifts Towards Life Extension

• Technological Advances in Medicine: Scientific progress anticipates defeating death, building on past misconceptions about mortality.

Page 24

Child Mortality and Human Capacity

• Historical Impact of Disease: Comparisons of mortality rates today versus historical contexts display improvements in health and longevity.

Page 25

Personal Narratives on Child Mortality

• Realities of Historical Figures: The child mortality experienced by prominent historical families illustrates the harsh realities of pre-modern healthcare.

Page 26

Expectations of Future Life Expectancy

• Project Gilgamesh: Scientific endeavors aim to extend human life indefinitely, with significant progress already evident in modern medicine.

Page 27

Funding's Role in Scientific Progress

• Economic Influences on Research: The funding of scientific research is informed by political, economic, and social motives beyond mere intellectual curiosity.

Page 28

Allocation of Research Funding

• Political Decision Making: The ethical implications of funding different areas of scientific research influence priorities and societal progress.

Page 29

Ideological Influences on Science

• Science's Goals: Ideological and political implications shape the goals of scientific findings, necessitating a critical understanding of their applications.