Decoded at last: the 'classical holy grail' that may rewrite the history of the world

[Dracon II]

Mind you... it is a big discovery that could yield interesting information...

I'm just cynical about the second renaissance comment... everything else is quite exciting.

[Space05us]

Well, it's like this: we had decent maps of the whole earth long before the Apollo space mission wonder was completed, but OTOH 30 years after finishing it we're nowhere close to being able to build modules for an interstellar space ship.

Under Democracy we have to increase luxury spending to offset the effects of invading other nations. Duh.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Dracon II
I'm just cynical about the second renaissance comment...

It's British journalism. Therefore, it deserves to be overlooked

[Traianvs]

Originally posted by Agathon
Great. Some of these have already been decoded.

I really hope they find a complete copy of Parmenides' poem, although it doesn't seem as if there was a lot of philosophy in this.

I wouldn't hope too much. Most of the philosophers before Anaxagoras didn't write anything or noything mcuh down adn aywa, iirc. Then again you'(ll know this more athan anyone else here.

Anyhow it would be iunteresting if they could present us with some new ideas. Most of the classical philosoophy is, to my surprise, little knowjn. but does it matterm tha t much when we have aristotle. ...?

[Agathon]

A second renaissance??

What do they expect to find on those documents? The unified theory of physics? Research notes on advanced nano-technology?

Unless you're Erich von Daniken I'd hardly think anyone would think the Egyptians would offer anything to us that could spark a new renaissance?

Duh. Egypt was Hellenized at the time. A littler matter of a man called Alexandria. Egypt was the centre of Hellenistic culture for hundreds of years: the Great Library was situated there.

Think of us suddenly discovering a trove of lost Shakespeare plays and great art from the Renaissance. That would be an occasion of some wonder.

I wouldn't hope too much. Most of the philosophers before Anaxagoras didn't write anything or noything mcuh down adn aywa, iirc. Then again you'(ll know this more athan anyone else here.

Some of them wrote. Parmenides is one I really want to get the rest of. Empedocles would be nice too.

Anyhow it would be iunteresting if they could present us with some new ideas. Most of the classical philosoophy is, to my surprise, little knowjn. but does it matterm tha t much when we have aristotle.

If some Aristotelian texts came to light it would be a miracle.

[Shi Huangdi]

A major part of the Rennaisance was classicism, a renewed interest in ancient history and culture, and an increased scholarship in both. This may well lead to a new outbreak of interest in classical learning. This will also, of course, greatly increase our cultural heritage.

[Agathon]

Not if the people who think all education must be "technical" have their way.

[Kuciwalker]

A littler matter of a man called Alexandria.

[Agathon]

Ok you got me. I should proof my stuff. Oh the shame....

[Kuciwalker]

[Agathon]

I could have DanSed you.

Let that be a lesson in humility to you, young Jedi.

[Kuciwalker]

You can't DanS someone once they've quoted your post

[Dracon II]

I think he means Alexander...

Sure this could result in greater historical knowledge and understanding of classical civilization.... but modern society is far, far beyond classical civilization and would not benefit from any major "rebirth" of science, learning and art, that a 2nd renaissance would imply. You might see some smidgen of a renaissance within your own faculty Agathon... but outside society is dealing with problems and implementing projects for which a renewed understanding of egyptian and hellenistic cultures would provide only a marginal (if any) amount of benefit or renewal.

I'm not knocking the significance of the discovery... I'm just knocking the kind of hubris of the idea that these discoveries could spark a second renaissance.

Oh wait... are you saying they were talking about possibly disovering a renaissance that occurred at the time of the parchments... when Greek and Egyptian culture fused? If so I apologize for my complete misrepresentation of the whole thing...

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
You can't DanS someone once they've quoted your post

You can when they forget to include your name because they were too lazy to hit the quote button.

[Agathon]

You might see some smidgen of a renaissance within your own faculty Agathon... but outside society is dealing with problems and implementing projects for which a renewed understanding of egyptian and hellenistic cultures would provide only a marginal (if any) amount of benefit or renewal.

Well, new discoveries of Shakespeare would probably interest a minority of people, but the value of the discoveries would last as long as we did.

No one is going to care much about obsolete technology 100 years from now. But people will still read Aeschylus.