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> The entirety of humanity’s knowledge is – of course – free Really? Isn't most of the important, peer-reviewed, scientific stuff behind academic paywalls? >
by Torn 13y ago
> The entirety of humanity’s knowledge is – of course – free
Really? Isn't most of the important, peer-reviewed, scientific stuff behind academic paywalls?
> you live in the most amazing time imaginable
Sorry to put a downer, but mankind has been marvelling at their own progress since the dawn of time. In 100 years people will look back at the primitive beginnings of the information age and marvel how much better things are in their current time.
There's plenty wrong with our current world and societies. I can easily imagine a world where technology benefits us better, solves more problems, societies become more equal, etc. etc.
- oliveremberton 13y agoAuthor of the piece here. > The entirety of humanity’s knowledge is – of course – free I was using a degree of hyperbole for the benefit of word economy. It's like when Louis CK remarked "Everything is amazing, no-one is happy". It's obvious he doesn't mean "everything" or "no-one", but a more factually precise "Most of our first-world lives are remarkably great, yet most of us complain disproportionately about them" isn't quite so catchy. I was aiming to write a commentary, not a white paper. As for your second point, I think we're in agreement. I agree it's likely that in 100 years our current best will look like crap. That's a good thing. It seems that mankind is on a permanent positive trajectory – a realisation that seems to elude most people, sadly – and that by itself is pretty damn amazing.