Progress in Anarchy

[Echelon]

Although i've had anarchist tendencies for quite a while now i've only recently started to take an active interest in the heavier theory etc regarding anarchy.

There is one fundamental question that through all my superficial wikipedia reading etc that i have felt the need to address.

Do people think that in an anarchist state humans would have progressed in scientific knowledge, mathematics, medicine etc to the degree that we have.

What are peoples views on this and if possible can you give and explanation?

[vaguelyhumanoid]

1. "Anarchist state" is an oxymoron.
2. If scientific progress only happens because of government grants, then we're fucked as a species.

[Echelon]

both valid points
cheers for the reply

[Guest]

first i would have to say... history has already happened, so the issues isn't so much 'what if' something was different in the past than what can be in the future.

most of what is considered scientific progress has been a result for the push for war and control. look at the marriage of psychology and pharmacology - has "progress" really been made, or have a bunch of drugs which further elite control been introduced?

right now you'll notice a lot of buzz around location-based services. you know, good stuff like find your cell phone when you lost it, or make sure you kid hasn't been abducted form their school. but is this "progress" or is it a way of getting everyone to give up their location in the name of safety and convenience?

what if, moving forward - the primary drivers, instead of war and lust for control, were need, desire, and both individual and common good? a small example might be those towns in europe that have chosen to turn off their traffic lights and have experienced multiple (un)expected benefits.

[Echelon]

first i would have to say... history has already happened, so the issues isn't so much 'what if' something was different in the past than what can be in the future.

most of what is considered scientific progress has been a result for the push for war and control. look at the marriage of psychology and pharmacology - has "progress" really been made, or have a bunch of drugs which further elite control been introduced?

right now you'll notice a lot of buzz around location-based services. you know, good stuff like find your cell phone when you lost it, or make sure you kid hasn't been abducted form their school. but is this "progress" or is it a way of getting everyone to give up their location in the name of safety and convenience?

what if, moving forward - the primary drivers, instead of war and lust for control, were need, desire, and both individual and common good? a small example might be those towns in europe that have chosen to turn off their traffic lights and have experienced multiple (un)expected benefits.

good points,
i s'pose yeah it's important to indicate what 'progress' is, because yeah it's a concept that has got pretty distorted

i would say though that good progress, as in progress that should legitimately be desired is progress in the arts; encouraging creativity and emotional fulfillment through the arts, for example music gigs - better special effects i would say is good progress
also progress in the fields of science and maths that deal with our understanding of ourselves, our planet and the universe, along with science that attempts to improve the health and lifespan as our species, because i think that fundamentally this is a good thing.

i would say that progress in these fields is to be desired and progress that has been made is fundamentally good.

also your example of the traffic lightes is pretty interesting, do you have more information on it, is there a link you could post?

[Guest]

re: traffic lights...

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=76717

[Echelon]

re: traffic lights...

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=76717

really good video!
thanks for the link.