30 April 2005

We've had some discussions in class and a few "cool people" presentations which bordered on the subject of contributions to humanity. It has also come into play in some of the blog conversations. I really am curious, and, of course, will never get to truly know which people in our era will live into history, the kind of history which last for millenia. If, as Weston posts, this really is a new Dark Ages, then who will be the Constantine--or the Saladin--the Temujin of our time? Or, if it really is a Renaissance, who is the Dante--the Michaelangelo --the Queen Elizabeth--the Shakespeare? I postulate that the true leaders will never be seen as so perfect again, mostly due to media attention, but surely we have some who will live into history for great deeds, or ideas, or important creations. (Of course, you'll then have to decide which time frame "our era" means. . .)

19 April 2005

It occurs to me to wonder if this era could be compared to a period of history. . .and is it more the Dark Ages or the Renaissance, or another period? Remember to put the date at the top of your blog and back your point with proof, please.

5 April 2005

What really defines the essence of HUMAN civilization?

It seems a little bit like we're circling around to the First Contact question again . . .(I think it's the same question in two different forms.)

What would you show to an alien to justify humanity's existence on Earth? Imagine that the artifact would make or break a case for the survival of the human race. . .this implies that the first contact would be with a superior race, but it seems possible that we could meet someone more advanced someday. New ground rules, though--it has to be visible with the naked human eye, portable (by one unassisted person), and self-sustaining (in other words, no power cords or umbilicals of any sort). It also has to be explainable in less than 100 words. This sort of requires that the artifact be representative of something larger, even symbolic, but its true essence has to be definable, and mostly self-explanatory.