Brian writes:
On a basic level, there is more 'knowledge' around nowadays, humans 3000 years ago were more concerned with scratching a living from the land than they were worrying about the speed of light.
How is that any different from today, Brian?
IMO - The "average person" today worries about the same things he did 3,000 years ago. Watch the "man on the street" interviews conducted by Jay Leno. Watch "Weakest Link" or any other show which attempts to elicit such sophisticated information as: The location of Iraq on the world map; The name the vice president of the United States; or other "simple" knowledge about the world we live in. Do your own such poll. I believe you will find that few people are availing themselves of the increase in knowledge.
Regarding the speed of light, I think "Professor" Johnny Carson revealed the mentality of the average person when he was asked: "Professor Carson, What is the speed of Light?" Carson replied, "Bud Light takes about fifteen minutes in me."
Sure, there's more knowledge around nowadays but I'd bet a dollar to a doughnut that the average, per capita, awareness of that knowledge has changed little over the centuries. Some people today graduate college without so much as mastering the three "R"s. Free public education has produced many highly trained slaves but little more. Wouldn't you agree?
[This message has been edited by doctrbill, 09-22-2003]
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