4 ms·
That's a conventional response with a lot of merit to it. But then I watch Clickspring recreating the Antikythera mechanism, and I wonder. Yes, there is a big
by samatman 6y ago
That's a conventional response with a lot of merit to it.
But then I watch Clickspring recreating the Antikythera mechanism, and I wonder.
Yes, there is a big leap between what is effectively clockwork and, say, making a pressure boiler. But I wonder: if Francis Bacon had been a student of Euclid and derived the scientific method in 3rd century BC Alexandria, and Rome had been better governed, devoting more energy to science and less to war, speed-walking the tech tree 1500 years early isn't impossible to contemplate.
Fun to think about anyway!
- macleginn 6y agoAs one of my uni professors said, if the Persians had not annihilated Miletus, the humanity would've walked on the Moon much sooner.
- FredPret 6y agoReally shows the value of protecting an enlightened state with a strong military. Science = long-term benefit, military = survival right now. I remember playing Master of Orion 2 with a pure science focus and getting my ass whipped every time. Then I realised that a good long term strategy needs to work around a good short-term strategy which enjoys priority. I switched to population and production focused games, and suddenly the “Impossible” AI was too easy.