Dan M wrote: > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On >> Behalf Of Richard Baker >> Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 5:25 PM >> To: Killer Bs (David Brin et al) Discussion >> Subject: Re: Science and Ideals. >> >> Dan M said: >> >> >>> Historically, empires can last a long time. The eastern part of the >>> Roman >>> Empire, which was split by Constantine in the 300s, lasted roughly >>> 1500 >>> years, and was defeated by another empire. IIRC, the Chinese empire >>> lasted >>> about the same length until it was overtook by the Ghengas >>> Kahn...who's rule >>> ended up merging into that empire. >>> >> It may be an aside, but both of those statements are misleading. >> > > I stand corrected by your detailed knowledge of that history, Richard. I > will accept that my quick recollection of history was all too facile, and I > honestly appreciate your history lesson. I'm snipping it, because I do > think it is an aside to the main thrust of my argument. But, if you find > historical errors in what I am about to say, do not hesitate to shout out. > > Empires can last a long time. They do reformulate, different dynasties do > exist. But, I think it is fair to say that regimes that do not place a great > deal of value on individual human rights can last centuries, and when they > are replaced it is often/usually not be a group that emphasized human > rights. > I would add a speculation that in this matter we might see the same acceleration that we have seen in so many other spheres of the modern world. We may well be in an era where 100 years would now be an upper limit for empire. The British empire made it around 200 years, but the American version looks like less than 100 years.
Regards, -- Kevin B. O'Brien TANSTAAFL [EMAIL PROTECTED] Linux User #333216 "There are no significant bugs in our released software that any significant number of users want fixed." Bill Gates, 1995 interview, Focus Magazine (Germany) _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
