What Could Have Been?
I have been wondering about our civilization and its trajectory throughout History. What if the Industrial Revolution occurred in 500 AD rather than 1800. Wasn't our main limitation between that time period a lack of science, reason, and freedom and property rights? From a research point of view, we are way behind on China (historical context here not scientific research)-but what if Rome embraced these concepts? What if the entire world adopted them in 1800? Imagine our wealth, including in knowledge. I was wondering if any of you think about that. I am inundated by news, the net, our own government that I should limit how I create by my use of resources, expect less from systems, plant my own food...in case California dries up and can't do that job for me. hmmm. How much of our history were the creators and dreamers and doers told to stand down and expect more shortages, learn less?
[edited for clarity on China comment ]
[edited for clarity on China comment ]
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Aristotle had hadn't taken off in Greece under the dominating influence of Plato; he was snuffed out. Greek science and mathematics was only a beginning that was stifled during the decline of Greece and the rise of the Roman Empire. Only about 50 individuals account for Greece's flowering, with only a part of that in the beginning of science and mathematics and a proper use of reason as opposed to Plato's rationalism. The Roman Empire following Greece was the center of European "civilization" for centuries, and never achieved anything like even what the Greeks had.
The ideas of Galileo, Bacon, Newton and the scientific revolution didn't, and couldn't, begin until the 16th century, and Locke and the Enlightenment were 18th century. The Industrial Revolution wasn't possible without that.
Augustine was at best reviving Aristotle and only poorly in some attempt to reconcile him with the church.
What Rome needed was the philosophy Francis Bacon (scientific method) and Locke ( political ethics and further refinement of the philosophy of science.).
It could not have occurred in 500 because the main limitation _then_ was mysticism and renunciation of life on earth, including science, reason, freedom and property rights, all of which were necessary to desire technology and industry, let alone invent and use it. The industrial Revolution didn't spring out of a vacuum. 500AD was only 100 years after Augustine.