Like other modern sciences, various scientific theories have appeared in historical research, but they generally remain the same - productivity determines production relations!
There are many such examples in the course of history. For example: the emergence of capitalism, followed by the outbreak of bourgeois revolution, etc.
However, what is very interesting is that when the social system undergoes drastic changes, science and technology often experience a blowout. Another example: after entering a capitalist society, there will be a leap forward in technology and national power.
I won't discuss the occasional flash of inspiration here. Just like the four great inventions, "Nine Chapters of Arithmetic" or "Elements of Geometry", they did not allow civilizations such as China or ancient Greece to leap into modern society.
That’s an all-round blowout!
There are too many examples like this. Just like the Western powers in those days, they crushed colonial countries due to generational differences.
But there is a very important question here: everyone should know that science is the primary productive force. But according to the above sequence, how come it becomes that production relations determine productivity?
Well! You can say it this way - the establishment of production relations, in turn, promotes the development of productivity.
There is no need to argue here. If you are bored, you can study it as a hobby.
Of course, Li Yuan would not study when he was full. He was not even a historian, he was just a copycat.
But don’t forget that this talk show is a promotional activity for “The Rise of a Great Power”, and what is most needed is a topic that can be hyped!
Since it’s just hype, of course it won’t stop until the words are shocking!
No matter what crooked ways he is, just blindly blow with your eyes closed!
If you create a very alternative view of the history of science and technology, wouldn’t it become a topic?
Li Yuan smiled and said: "When I was doing historical research, I discovered that the emergence of modern civilization and modern technology is inseparable from the same thing! In other words, the same invention plays a decisive role!"
"Oh? What is that?" Host Phil and the audience looked at Li Yuan curiously.
"Glass!"
"Glass? Glass???" Everyone was shocked. Phil's eyes widened in disbelief.
How could it be glass? Such a junky thing that can be seen everywhere? Moreover, in any introduction to the history of scientific development, the invention of glass does not seem to be mentioned, and it seems not important at all.
Except for those who know something about the Western Middle Ages, they should have heard that Venetian merchants made a fortune through the glass trade.
Oh! There is also time travel, and freedom of wealth is achieved through inventions such as gunpowder, soap, and glass. But to be honest, even if there are time-travelers in time-travel stories, they basically rank glass at the end, and they pay the least attention?
How could it be glass?
Li Yuan smiled and continued to explain: "Without the emergence of glass, it would be difficult to discover optical principles, and telescopes and microscopes would not be invented. Without a telescope to observe the movement of celestial bodies, there would be no initial development of physics and mathematics. Without microscopes,
If microorganisms are observed, modern medicine and biology would be impossible. In addition, there are beakers, measuring cylinders and other experimental glassware. If there were no experimental reactions, it would be impossible to observe experimental reactions, and it would be impossible to have disciplines such as chemistry."
"Haha. It seems to make sense." Phil smiled, "But I always feel... it's a bit far-fetched, right? In the history of mankind, there are many important inventions. If we all infer this backward, such inverse cause and effect
, you should be able to give many examples, right?”
"This is a phenomenon I accidentally discovered when I was writing this book "The Rise of Great Powers"."
"Well. We are also curious about your opinion." (The whole audience laughed)
"When I was studying the history of the rise of various countries, I suddenly discovered a very interesting phenomenon - why do modern culture, modern technology, modern systems, and almost everything in modern times originate from Western civilization? At that time, the whole world
There are three major civilizations in the world: Western civilization, Arab civilization and our Eastern civilization with China as the core. So why does Western civilization stand out?"
"There should be a lot of relevant literature on research in this area, right? But basically they are various types of superiority theories. What about civilizational superiority theory, cultural superiority theory, institutional superiority theory, geographical superiority theory, and racial superiority theory, etc.
Wait, some of them involve discrimination issues, which is hard to say. But this theory should exist objectively."
"Uh-huh."
"However, here, there is a situation that is equally interesting. In fact, in the early days of the rise of Western civilization, there was also a technological explosion. It was around the time of Newton that a large number of famous scientists appeared and laid the foundation for modern science.
Most categories. It can even be said that the luxurious lineup of the Royal Academy of Sciences at that time was simply a dream team!"
"Why is this happening?" Phil quickly followed up.
Li Yuan smiled and nodded: "I have summarized scientists like Newton. They basically have two characteristics in common - one is that they are rich. At least they are from squire families. This is easy to understand. If the family has no money, it will not be possible at all.
You can’t afford higher education. The other is boredom.”
"Ah? Are you bored?" (The audience chuckled)
"I discovered that it was during the time of the Black Death. Many people returned to the countryside to avoid the disease. Obviously, they would be bored. Some people who like scientific research started research
For example: Newton, as a dismissed student from Cambridge University, he studied a series of achievements such as the three major theorems of mechanics and the theorem of universal gravitation in a rural farm."
"Haha, it does make sense." Phil smiled and nodded.
Li Yuan continued: "In ancient China, there was a Confucian philosophical school whose founder was Confucius. Its status should be similar to Aristotle in ancient Greece."
"Haha, I know that. Confucius!"
"Confucian scholars can pass examinations to become officials. Later, Britain learned from this system and created the earliest civil service examination system. These scholars mainly studied philosophy and literature. Of course, there are also calligraphy, painting, music, drama and other arts. Just like
You Western aristocrats are pretty much the same."
"Um."
"Going back to the topic just now, we in China also have a frequently debated topic - why did China not take the lead in entering the industrial revolution? Some say it was the beginning of capitalism. Commercial city-states such as Venice, Rotterdam, and the Hanseatic League appeared in the West.
But at that time, large-scale industrial and commercial cities also appeared in the southern region of China. For example: Songjiang Cloth, the textile industry appeared in Songjiang, and the cotton cloth produced monopolized the national market. To explain: There were no accurate statistics on China's population at that time, but generally
I think it’s between 50 million and 100 million.”
There was a commotion in the whole place. Phil was also curious: "Yuanger, is that true?"
"Of course it is true. You should all know that the industrial revolution in any country usually starts from the textile industry. So there is a saying that we also had the beginning of capitalism at that time. There is also a saying that Confucian scholars are conservative and backward.
I am disgusted with any natural science. There is indeed a reason for this. Because if you want to become an official, you need to pass the exam, so you gave up research in other fields. But in fact, the mainstream society at that time did not encourage it very much, but it also did not oppose it very much. Because
The Six Arts of Confucianism are the six courses that need to be studied, including mathematics, that is, mathematics, engineering, physics and the like. If you are interested in studying, you can at most treat it as a hobby, which is similar to painting and music.
"
"Then are they rich? Of course the officials are very rich. And Confucianism emphasizes farming, reading and passing down the family. Most of them are big landowners. So are they bored? Let me introduce to you, there is a system in ancient China——
Observing filial piety means that after the death of parents, commemorative activities need to be held at home for three full years. If you are an official, you also need to resign and go home, and then return to be an official after three years. Drinking, entertainment, socializing, etc. are also prohibited.
Let me ask you, a highly educated scholar who is also very rich will definitely study his own interests and hobbies after staying at home for three years. Although most people study literature, calligraphy and painting, there are always people who will explore
Science, maybe even exploring natural science?”
"In addition, no one is enlightened. In fact, in ancient China
There are. For example, the four great inventions. Many works have been handed down. There are also accidental discoveries. Western chemistry is generally guessed to come from alchemy or wizards and pharmacists? In ancient China, there were also people with similar professions.
, that is, alchemy, etc. I heard that the invention of gunpowder came from ancient alchemy. There are also destructive factors such as war, conservative ideas, etc. But in this regard, European medieval wars were definitely more frequent than China. And they were more conservative and ignorant.
There were witches hanging, burning at the stake, etc. In ancient China, if you studied these, at least your life would not be in danger."
Phil finally asked, "Ger, so you think the glass is missing?"
"That's right! From any point of view, ancient China has actually met the technical conditions for the invention of glass. It can create a sufficiently high-temperature environment. You should all know that China's porcelain is very famous, and it is almost close to the finished product of glass. At that time, it was already possible
Produce a product called colored glaze. It is the form of glass before it is purified. However, in ancient China, colored glaze was a kind of decoration. The biggest demand is colorful, so I doubt that the craftsmen deliberately went in the wrong direction. That is
Say—click on the wrong technology tree!"
"Clicked the wrong technology tree?"
"right!"
There was constant applause from the audience. Although most of the audience were not aware of it, they still admired Li Yuan's knowledge. To put it simply, Li Yuan used his Internet knowledge to show off.
This is also very consistent with the image of a historian, and also very consistent with the theme of this talk show.
But to be honest, it seems to lack some entertainment, right?
Phil smiled and asked: "Yuanger, what are the consequences of clicking on the wrong technology tree?"
"It is difficult to carry out modern scientific research. It can be said that precisely because of the invention of glass, even if Eastern civilization worked hard for a thousand or ten thousand years, there would still be no industrial revolution! And the industrial revolution pioneered by Western civilization was
certain."
"Ah? Are you sure?"
"I think that's it! Have you discovered that a very humble invention like glass can explore modern science and gradually create and improve the modern scientific system. As for the emergence of the industrial revolution, the establishment of the modern social system, etc., this country is not
, that is that country. There is indeed a chance in this, but from the perspective of historical process, it is inevitable. Here I will extend it again, if the technological tree of glass has not been pointed out in human history, maybe in another million years,
We still live in the dark ages of ignorance and conservatism.”
"Ah? Sorry to interrupt, are you so sure?"
The whole place burst into laughter.
Li Yuan nodded affirmatively: "Without a telescope, microscope and transparent glassware, we can't observe at all, right?"
The laughter was louder.
"Okay then! Let's believe your point of view for now. Does your statement have any theoretical basis?"
"Of course there is, it's the Great Sieve Theory. The Great Sieve Theory comes from the Fermi Paradox - why haven't we discovered aliens yet? It is believed that the emergence of intelligent creatures in the universe will lead to a series of Great Sieve processes. Maybe
We humans on earth have already broken through this great sieve, and will conquer the entire universe sooner or later in the future. Maybe we haven’t encountered this great sieve before, so we will never be able to get out of the solar system! Let’s make a hypothesis: in the universe
On a certain planet, intelligent creatures, that is, aliens, were also born. If they had not opened the technology tree of glass, they would never have been able to enter the industrial revolution and would have been trapped on that planet."
This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! "I understand, poor aliens, their girls don't have mirrors to put on makeup?" (The audience laughed)
"This should be a good science fiction theme." (The whole audience burst into laughter)
"Yuanger, I have a question that I'm curious about. Do you think you're an alien?"
Li Yuan firmly... shook his head: "I don't think so!"
"ah?"
It should be said that with the popularity of science fiction and science fiction movies, most people around the world believe that there are aliens. Those like Li Yuan who do not believe are definitely aliens, right?
Li Yuan smiled: "Assume that there are aliens like us humans in the universe. They can generally be divided into two types:
One kind, one kind malicious, but no matter which one they are, they will definitely explore or conduct external reconnaissance. According to our current technology, theoretically, we can build an aircraft that can reach one-tenth the speed of light.
"
"We will not discuss issues of cost and return on investment here. We will not consider manned spaceships or anything like that. They are unmanned, robots that can automatically replicate. After arriving at the next planet, they will use the materials on the planet to make several copies of themselves, and then
Fly to the next planet. Of course, this is a theoretical calculation. To complete such an unmanned reconnaissance and replicating robot aircraft, you still need to open a lot of technology trees. But as long as you do whatever it takes, in a few hundred years, it should be possible
Come up with very mature products."
"The next step will be a few hundred years later. If there is such an aircraft with one-tenth the speed of light, it will only take one million years to travel to every planet in the galaxy."
"Then the question arises. Maybe we think that 1 million years is quite a long time. But on a cosmic scale, 1 million years is less than 1 second. If this is the case, how many alien civilizations are there in the Milky Way? How many extraterrestrial civilizations are there around our earth?
With such an aircraft. Maybe alien civilizations have more advanced or weirder technologies, but they definitely have technologies similar to ours. But where are they? This is the Fermi Paradox!"
To be honest, whether there are aliens or not is none of my business! The key is to create topics! Create heat!
Sure enough, the whole scene suddenly became excited. Phil smiled and said: "Yuanger, your point of view is amazing! But... I do want to believe you." (The whole audience laughed)
Li Yuan shrugged: "I don't understand, how can I go from recommending a history book to talking about aliens?" (hilarious)
"Okay! So what's your point of view?"
"Technology promotes history. As I just introduced, the emergence of glass promoted the industrial revolution. Then various countries entered modern history. And the emergence of the first industrial revolution gave birth to an empire on which the sun never sets like the United Kingdom; the second
During the first revolution, big countries like the United States and Germany emerged. Now is the third industrial revolution, so any country has a chance!"
