Generally, science figures the age of homo sapiens, or man as he's genetically configured, to be about one and a half million years. Some interpretations and beliefs based on religious teachings place the age at about 7000 years. Either way, it's a long period of stagnation technically when compared to the last 100 to 150 years. Man has been around enough to offer up to 7000 years of recorded history, even the near full basic progression of a particular race.
Where were we? By that I mean, without genetic differences and the resulting difference in intellect, creativity, curiosity, and an ability to recognize cause and effect what held us back? On the other hand, if nothing held us back, what triggered such a difference to initiate such a rapid growth of technology?
Not that they are the exclusive possibilities, but it seems that there are two possible considerations.
(1) One consideration is that there was a restraining factor, restricting us from moving forward... something that kept us from seeing, thinking, evaluating, inventing, recording and building onto previous achievements.
(2) The second consideration is that there was no restraining factor. Man had proven himself over a million and a half years, (or for those not granting man that long, thousands of years) to lack the ability to create, observe, reason, or apply himself enough to advance without the application of an additional motivating force. So, the second consideration is that rather than a restricting factor, an additional motivation or ability was added, or a secret was shared.
Okay, which? What stopped us; or what started us?
I'm sure I'm not alone in having considered such questions. Probably many of us at some time or another ponders the question. Now's the time to share. Any thoughts?
Where were we? By that I mean, without genetic differences and the resulting difference in intellect, creativity, curiosity, and an ability to recognize cause and effect what held us back? On the other hand, if nothing held us back, what triggered such a difference to initiate such a rapid growth of technology?
Not that they are the exclusive possibilities, but it seems that there are two possible considerations.
(1) One consideration is that there was a restraining factor, restricting us from moving forward... something that kept us from seeing, thinking, evaluating, inventing, recording and building onto previous achievements.
(2) The second consideration is that there was no restraining factor. Man had proven himself over a million and a half years, (or for those not granting man that long, thousands of years) to lack the ability to create, observe, reason, or apply himself enough to advance without the application of an additional motivating force. So, the second consideration is that rather than a restricting factor, an additional motivation or ability was added, or a secret was shared.
Okay, which? What stopped us; or what started us?
I'm sure I'm not alone in having considered such questions. Probably many of us at some time or another ponders the question. Now's the time to share. Any thoughts?