this post was submitted on 20 Jun 2024
10 points (85.7% liked)

Ask Lemmygrad

805 readers
34 users here now

A place to ask questions of Lemmygrad's best and brightest

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

Its a vague statement. Not specific enough to be true or false.

We can be more specific by saying something like, "inventions and ideas will become refined and widespread when they are beneficial, useful, and practical." Or maybe "necessity is a crucible for refining ideas and inventions."

Even these are only roughly applicable as a generalization and a statement could only be said to be true when given specific conditions and detailed investigation.

For example, the basics of steam power were understood back in ancient Rome, but they didn't make any steam engines to convert heat to useful work. Why? Because they didn't need to. They also likely didn't have the requisite industry to make and maintain them in any useful capacity. The engine was invented before it was necessary, but it didn't become widespread until material conditions made it useful.

Even ideas like socialism have existed for a very long time, but the only place we see it kicking off (so far, inshallah) is within the places that need it the most. Was it invented in those places? No. Was it refined through those struggles? Of course it was.