Lumifer comments on Is my view contrarian? - Less Wrong

22 Post author: lukeprog 11 March 2014 05:42PM

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Comment author: Lumifer 12 March 2014 08:00:36PM 3 points [-]

One rarely sees scientific ideas spread by conquest

Except when a more-scientific society kicks the hell out of the less-scientific society and takes it over (or, maybe, just takes over its land and women). Science is very helpful for building weapons.

Comment author: Strange7 13 March 2014 05:26:45AM 2 points [-]

In those situations, though, the conquering force usually makes a point to avoid letting their core scientific insights spread, lest the tables turn.

Comment author: Lumifer 13 March 2014 03:07:05PM 0 points [-]

the conquering force usually makes a point to avoid letting their core scientific insights spread, lest the tables turn.

Only if the conquered society survives. Often it doesn't -- look at what happened in the Americas.

Comment author: Strange7 15 March 2014 08:23:42AM 3 points [-]

That seems like a subset, not an exception. A conquered society which doesn't survive is certainly not going to be adopting higher-tech weapons.

Comment author: Eugine_Nier 18 March 2014 03:16:28AM 0 points [-]

Well that didn't stop Japan from getting western advisers to help with it's modernization after Perry opened it.

Comment author: newerspeak 18 March 2014 05:33:28AM 1 point [-]
Comment author: TheAncientGeek 12 March 2014 08:35:16PM 0 points [-]

Science =/= technology. Profoundly anti scientific movements can make their point using tech. .bought on the open market.