TInmania wrote:
4X4Dodger wrote:
In my view people need to keep control of the vehicle, learn to back and park and repair everything possible. Otherwise we mortgage our future to those few who have specialized knowledge. And worst of all it endangers our very independence.
While I very much admired Carl Sagan I don't really agree with that assertion.
There really isn't just a precious few who have specialized knowledge: there are legions of them. The skilled tech who can fix your hi-tech washing machine will likely be lost trying to work on the turbocharger in his car. So would a proficient programmer used to dealing in software.
Speaking of cars, back in the 1950s and 1960s you generally needed to work on your own car: they weren't nearly as reliable as today. Not sure I would even classify much of what the "average man" did as knowing the ins and outs of the car. They could change points and plugs, replace a generator or alternator, and a myriad of other things that regularly failed. But rebuild a transmission or engine? Not likely aside from gearheads (who are still around).
In a way technology is just an extension of the centuries old division of labor. Even the westward pioneers of the 19th century couldn't have made it without someone else making nails, wagons, fabric, wire, tools, etc.
Michael
I understand your point but would point out that most men of my generation have a complete technical knowledge of the internal combustion engine as it existed in the 50's 60's and 70's and could tear one down and put it back together. I will admit the transmission was another matter for most if it was automatic.
While the "precious few" I mentioned number in the millions you have to set that against the multiple Billions of people without the true understanding of how things work. This ratio still gives us a "technological preisthood" and means most of us are mere "operators" of technology without a basic understanding of it's underlying science.
In the 1700's and 1800's even your average farmer could make nails and most of his other tools. He could also understand the basic science underlying the Steam Locomotive...the technological wonder of it's day.
This is not to say that technological advances are not positive rather our educational system has not kept pace with the technology and teaching its underlying science.