Modern Electronics (was Re: List charter mods & headcount... ; -))

From: der Mouse <mouse_at_Rodents.Montreal.QC.CA>
Date: Sun Jun 20 19:53:25 2004

>> I think the question boils down: Are we losing any knowledge as each
>> generation passes?
> I would have to answer this with a resounding YES!

Me too. Who nowadays can knap a stone knife? hunt and kill game with
no weapon but a spear? make a bow, and arrows to go with it? make a
fire with a wood drill, or even flint and steel?

Or if you want skills less thoroughly lost, who can harness a yoke of
oxen for plowing? forge a plow? forge a sword?

Or even less so, who can ride a horse? do arithmetic on an abacus? use
the English subjunctive correctly?

...design vacuum-tube circuits?

John W. Campbell put it well in _Forgetfulness_.

> An alternative question of course is...
> "Does it matter if knowledge is lost as each generation passes?"
> This gets much more complicated......

Does it matter? It better not, because knowledge _will_ be lost.
Perhaps ask instead "Which knowledge can we afford to lose?"....

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Received on Sun Jun 20 2004 - 19:53:25 BST