Quote:What about the Mayans?

What about them?   They were so busy worrying about the stars they forgot about their water supply.

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160222-...f-the-maya

Quote:Most of the Classic Maya cities fell between AD850 and 925 – largely coincident with a century of drought

(April 23, 2016 at 10:28 am)abaris Wrote: You get no argument from me on that.

Science, especially during the last century, made it's biggest leap during times of war. Now, I can't say I'm not glad we have penicilin, jets or rockets being able to reach space. But I would rather have all of that invented because it furthers humanity, not as a means to destroy ourselves or to patch up wounded soldiers.

Seems there's only enough funds if we're out to kill each other. Never when it's just about surviving and furthering our common good. Well, unless someone gains from it.

As I said, you got a point. But there's no easy answer to it. At least I haven't got the answer.

Enough to keep me wondering, If you ask me.


I'll be totally honest; I frankly have no idea about how life in a pure nature, counting only on what I already have. I spoke about integrating technology with nature, but thinking about it twice: we wouldn't have a technology in the first place if it wasn't for the industrial revolution.

A paradox to some extent. I might be naive to mix imagination with reality.. But no harm to make an attempt; or at least work the pollution issue out, since it's a human habit obviously, from Arabia to China.

Minimalist

Quote:The Maya were also intellectually advanced. They had a strong grasp of mathematics and astronomy, which they used to align their pyramids and temples with the precession of planets and the solar equinoxes. And they used the only known written script in Mesoamerica, a bizarre-looking set of characters known as Maya hieroglyphs.

I think it holds a lesson to us; modern people: no matter how advanced you are, the smallest things can kill you.

But wait a second..
Do you have any idea, Minimalist, about how many years did the draught go ?

Quote:And not just any drought. The ones in the 9th Century had certainly been severe. But the 11th Century brought the worst drought that the region had seen for fully 2,000 years - a “megadrought”.

Not its date but how long it went; each droughts. I'm very interested to know how many years it went.
Is it even possible to know?

(April 23, 2016 at 12:14 pm)Minimalist Wrote: What about them?   They were so busy worrying about the stars they forgot about their water supply.

But at least, as opposed to the Spanish primitives wiping them out, they knew about astronomy.

(April 23, 2016 at 1:33 pm)abaris Wrote:

(April 23, 2016 at 12:14 pm)Minimalist Wrote: What about them?   They were so busy worrying about the stars they forgot about their water supply.

But at least, as opposed to the Spanish primitives wiping them out, they knew about astronomy.

Don't insult master Cortes ! 
He had the whole cosmos down in his belt just few years after setting foot in south america !...who needs astronomy anyways?

(April 23, 2016 at 10:40 am)Chad32 Wrote: I wouldn't mind living amongst nature, instead of trying to conquer it. There are things modern society has done right, and certainly things it has done wrong. If we can take the things we've done well, and get rid of the bad stuff, that would be the most ideal thing. We should always be making steps in that direction.

That would be one hell of a Utopia if you ask me 
The problem is, you won't find a majority to back you up if you ever want to take the filled cup of modern culture only..people will always seek junk; I'm not generalizing, I'm sorry, but that's how I see reality: even I, I might wish for such thing, but what am I going to do without fast food and air conditioning ? I guess we chose the wrong path, and just carried the consequence. 

One hell of a paradox.

(April 23, 2016 at 1:44 pm)AtlasS33 Wrote: That would be one hell of a Utopia if you ask me 

Does it matter? Always strive for the seemingly impossible if the status quo isn't the way to go. Knowing that it won't happen a 100 percent doesn't prevent hoping and striving for better solutions.

(April 23, 2016 at 1:47 pm)abaris Wrote:

(April 23, 2016 at 1:44 pm)AtlasS33 Wrote: That would be one hell of a Utopia if you ask me 

Does it matter? Always strive for the seemingly impossible if the status quo isn't the way to go. Knowing that it won't happen a 100 percent doesn't prevent hoping and striving for better solutions.

Yes. The journey ends where our hope ends.

Integrating technology with nature is smart, as is working in harmony with nature rather than in opposition to it where possible. The earth-sheltered building designs you mentioned are excellent examples. They aren't useful in all climates but they would be terrific where I live: Phoenix, AZ USA. Summer cooling costs could be reduced dramatically and winter heating eliminated altogether.

Just be glad that you don't live in China.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesd...reams.html

(April 23, 2016 at 10:28 am)abaris Wrote: You get no argument from me on that.

Science, especially during the last century, made it's biggest leap during times of war. Now, I can't say I'm not glad we have penicilin, jets or rockets being able to reach space. But I would rather have all of that invented because it furthers humanity, not as a means to destroy ourselves or to patch up wounded soldiers.

Seems there's only enough funds if we're out to kill each other. Never when it's just about surviving and furthering our common good. Well, unless someone gains from it.

As I said, you got a point. But there's no easy answer to it. At least I haven't got the answer.

Is it the answer that’s not easy or the implementation? We know what needs to be done and those who are in power know as well. But greed and fear stay their hands. For them, It’s safer to remain on the tiger’s back, even though we know we should get down.