Posted on 01/22/2016 6:25:40 PM PST by WhiskeyX
In fact... wouldn’t it be curious if those Neanderthals proceeded to preach what they understood as the gospel, to us? We might be put to shame.
There’s a reason we wiped out the Neanderthals. They were a threat. They’d still be one today.
L
We currently have technology such that Aristotle would have considered us gods. Are we that much more advanced and peaceful?
Also, consider that, just because some beings have ACCESS to technology, it does not mean that the tech USERS are philosophically advanced. Think of space-going Somali pirates.
The Spanish conquistadors did not come from the European philosopher class. They were thugs who went exploring looking for valuables and places to conquer.
Consider the advancing technology of 3D printing. A star-traveling expedition would necessarily have to bring the technology to make whatever they might need, from locally-found raw materials. They might therefore be more interested in the asteroid belt than in Earth.
It’s funny to think sbout, but it seems to me that when a higher % of humans hundreds of years ago were really into divine Providence the hypothetical Neanderthals would have been in much more danger of exploitation, slavery, or massacre. Now that we are generally much more comfortable through technology is when they probably would be much safer, but there is more unbelief now than ever.
Freegards
Only in failed and failing cultures.
Of course. But comedy, like gold, is where you find it.
What makes anyone think we would find out about the island of Neanderthals before some “unforeseen tragedy” had befallen them?
All it takes is one bad actor to completely change any situation.
I can see the Saudis or some other bunch of muzlims launching a flotilla of “fishing” and “commerce” vessels to cleanse the earth of the diseased “beasts” because they don’t fit into the muzlim narrative.
I may be predisposed to skepticism, but I see one good person, one bad person and five others who float with the wind in every situation.
Not sure I take your meaning, friend. Sorry if I am being dense.
Freegards
I think my point was that as a society we wouldn’t murder them out right or enslave them, or at least certain segments would probably put up a fight if barbarians decided to do that. Where if a bunch of clipper ships in the year 1850 found them they would probably be in much more trouble.
Now, I don’t know what would happen if Neanderthal pituitary gland extract was found to prolong homo sapiens life span by 100 years or something.
Freegards
I know. But one problem we, westerners that is, have is projecting our own values and belief system onto others who may not share them.
Suppose some sort of hive mind collective were to discover us here on little old earth.
The royalty caste may decide this is the perfect world to use as a nursery world.
Or maybe they discover some rare mineral or whatever it is they value?
I don’t think I would want to bet on them being as kind and generous as you are.
I wouldn’t mind being discovered by a race made up of high minded beings such as yourself.
Your premise of a hive mind killing us all is just as valid as a hive mind being joyful at finding us weirdo individual minds.
I wouldn’t want to bet on anything being kind and generous, I think things like the active SETI program was/is foolish and dangerous.
“But one problem we, westerners that is, have is projecting our own values and belief system onto others who may not share them.”
But it seems to me to that to use the whole ‘when any society that comes into contact with less developed/powerful society the less developed loses’ truism is human-centric. It could very well apply to all sophonts. But we don’t know for sure. I don’t think it is even true for much of this world, at least any more. But it definitely seemed to be at one time.
Freegards
True, the premise is human centric but that is all we have to go on. At the present time anyway.
But it is fun to discuss from time to time.
It’s been fun!
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