Is there any reason to think that the internet is nothing more than a black hole for the mind? Sure, it has brought about some wonderful improvements in some areas of life. For example, instead of a set of encyclopedias in our homes, now we only need a smart phone with the Google app. Instead of a bunch of awkward fold-up maps, now we only need a GPS app. Heck, it can even tell us where the cheapest gas is or what the show times are at our local theater.
In fact, the internet has grown so intelligent, it sometimes even knows what we want before we do. Our search history is monitored in such a way that enables advertisers to target us individually with their product rather than using mass marketing. However, have we grown so attached to technology that we can't escape its influence?
One of the pioneers of science-fiction literature was a man named John W. Campbell, Jr. In 1937, he wrote a short story entitled, "Forgetfulness." In it, he imagines a race of people living in the ruins of an ancient civilization that appeared to have been much more technologically advanced.
Other-worldly explorers discover this odd situation and are struck by how primitive and ignorant the natives are. However, without giving any spoilers in case you want to read it for yourself, in the end, the explorers are blown away by just how advanced the present day inhabitants are in comparison to their ancestors.
The story makes me wonder what would happen if we suddenly lost all of our technology. Would our baser natures take over and survival of the fittest suddenly become the law of the land? Or could we expect a more humane humanity? Could we move on to a better future?
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