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Just as a plug for German innovation -- consider the 19th century: if you include Austria/ Vienna, people who spoke German (and were often Jewish) basically in
by forkandwait 16y ago
Just as a plug for German innovation -- consider the 19th century: if you include Austria/ Vienna, people who spoke German (and were often Jewish) basically invented modern thought, ranging from mathematics to chemistry to music to philosophy to psychology etc. England was great in applied physics and math, France in dynamics and biology, but in theoretical math, music, and philosophy Germany TOWERS above anyone in the 19th century.
It all went south with the Kaiser's attempt to imitate Napolean and then National Socialism; but if Germany had avoided militarism and kept the Jews they basically would own Europe by now (they sort of do even with the setbacks of the first half of the twentieth century).
- forkandwait 16y agoWhat I meant to say was that any statement saying that Germany is an "uninnovative" country is just hogwash. The downvote -- why? Because you disagree?
- nickpinkston 16y agoI didn't downvote you, and I also didn't say they didn't innovate. Rather, modern German innovation rarely takes the form of transformation, more of incremental innovation. I can't think of any modern industries revolutionized by German companies. Automotive saw a steady stream of good innovation no doubt, but hardly very transformative.
- rb2k_ 16y agowell, there was MP3 (invented, at least partially, at the Fraunhofer Society).
- lispm 16y agoDepends on where you look at. There are entire industrial niche markets 'owned' by German Mittelstand companies. It is just not in your focus of attention.
- jules 16y agoCan you give an example of any industry revolutionized by any company?
- nickpinkston 16y agoExactly... that's where I was getting at. In the mid 1800's, they were bad ass in chemical production and science in general - really many areas. Seemingly, WWII made them a more risk adverse society. Beforehand, the small/mid size businesses were actually very entrepreneurial.
- binomial 16y agoTo say that Germans "invented modern thought" is pushing it. Perhaps you can qualify that with an appropriate definition of "modern thought". The first few disciplines were around long before the 19th century.
- paganel 16y ago> To say that Germans "invented modern thought" is pushing it Kant was German. As was Hegel. And Marx. Maybe it's just me, but I'd say that the history (including that of intellectual thought) of the last 200 years would be completely different if it weren't for these 3 guys.