EHeller comments on Stranger Than History - Less Wrong

52 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 01 September 2007 06:57PM

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Comment author: EHeller 08 April 2014 04:05:01AM 2 points [-]

The transition away from feudalism took literally hundreds of years. On the same time scales it took countries to transition out of feudalism, I'd assume any difference that affirmative action would have on South Africa would be absolutely dwarfed by hundreds of years of technological progress.

Comment author: Lumifer 10 April 2014 06:41:32PM 4 points [-]

The transition away from feudalism took literally hundreds of years.

In any particular country, no, not really. The important switches (e.g. the ability of commoners to obtain education beyond primary school) happen much more quickly. However we have a current example: China. Over the last thirty years or so there has been a massive influx of former peasants (without "proper education") out of the countryside into the industrial workforce and into the cities. Funny how no one suggests there should be an affirmative action program for them.