"For millions of years, mankind lived just like the animals. Then something happened which unleashed the power of the imagination. We learned to talk and we learned to listen. Speech has allowed the communication of ideas, enabling human beings to work together to build the impossible. Mankind's greatest achievements have come about by talking, and its greatest failures by not talking. It doesn't have to be like this. Our greatest hopes could become reality in the future.With the technology at our disposal, the possibilities are unbounded. All we need to do is make sure we keep talking." - Stephen Hawking
I understand Hawking's point about communication, I am puzzled by the origins and timing of when it started.
ReplyDelete"Then something happened which unleashed the power of the imagination" he says, and it sounds like he has no idea either. One source says it was "only" 50,000 years ago that we became capable of speech, but I wonder. I also mistrust the theories of how we spread out through the world. I think we really know precious little about the subject, most of the theories strike me as pure conjecture or wishful thinking.
I agree. While I appreciate the sentiment of the quote if you dig too deep the facts don't quite add up.
ReplyDeleteIn general it seems when people of hard sciences like Hawking dip into the world of social sciences they are way too naive and also seem to leave skepticism and scientific method at the door.
But the sentiment of the quote stands.
ReplyDeleteThe fool talks but the wise man listens.
ReplyDeleteToo much talkin' goin on, I says, and very few people listenin'.
Where Hawking's says "talk" substitute "communicate", then let your mind expand a little bit in all directions.