Did the Cold War advance us as a species?

Mordo · September 07, 2015, 03:04:31 PM

I've been thinking about this recently, and it's probably obvious to the more politically astute members of the forum, but the more I realise, everything that happened during the Cold War, directly or indirectly, advanced us technologically and stabilized us politically.

Ever since Sputnik the US had been competing with the Soviet Union in a large scale dick measuring contest to see who could get to the Moon faster and break scientific barriers. Not to mention the relatively stable amount of peace that we experienced for a couple decades out of fear of eviscerating the planet's surface.

Does anyone think that kind of intense competition would be beneficial for us again? We've already begun stagnating in regards to space exploration, so maybe we do need some kind of kick up the arse. Thoughts?

Turkey · September 07, 2015, 03:08:44 PM

I think it definitely helped in the sense that we realized we really did not want to utilize nuclear weapons again. MAD is still doctrine, but it's never going to happen. On the other hand, the arms race and subsequent dissolution of the USSR lead to the arming of numerous separatist and radical groups that we're fighting today, so there's a pretty significant downside. I think manned space exploration has stagnated mostly because it's prohibitively expensive and there's just nothing more for an astronaut on the moon to accomplish. It's not feasible to send people to Mars or any other nearby celestial body, and we're doing quite well in sending unmanned vehicles and satellites out through the solar system.

Luciana · September 07, 2015, 03:12:14 PM

Just give China about 20 more years and we'll see another Cold War. America likes to see them as foes rather than a friendly rival.

If China and America could actually work together as global powers, it'd be beneficial to everyone. But as the Cold War has shown, two superpowers never get along because of influence.

BaconShelf · September 07, 2015, 03:14:28 PM

Quote from: Luciana on September 07, 2015, 03:12:14 PM

Just give China about 20 more years and we'll see another Cold War. America likes to see them as foes rather than a friendly rival.

If China and America could actually work together as global powers, it'd be beneficial to everyone. But as the Cold War has shown, two superpowers never get along because of influence.

And, of course, the dirty communist and capitalist pig attitudes which people who grew up in the cold war have don't help, either.

eggsalad · September 07, 2015, 08:20:16 PM

Quote from: 外ギン AVIATION on September 07, 2015, 03:04:31 PM

Not to mention the relatively stable amount of peace that we experienced for a couple decades out of fear of eviscerating the planet's surface.

What like, the two decades immediately when it started?
Because Korea, Hungary, Vietnam...

Lord Starch · September 08, 2015, 04:04:32 AM

Sounds like you're measuring the success of the species based on space exploration. While it's a great feat, it's not really a relevant measure of technological success. Also there wasn't much peace post Cold War, we jumped right back into conflict in the early 90's, and that's just the U.S. On a global scale peace hasn't been achieved in a while.
War is a good means of innovation because you're forced to innovate, or you lose to the enemy. But I'd rather economic competition instead of the fear of death be the means in which technology professes. In regards to space exploration, you'd be better off waiting for more advanced propulsion and material technology to be made in the private sector.

challengerX · September 08, 2015, 11:23:25 AM

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ΚΑΤΑΝΑΛΩΤΗΣ · September 08, 2015, 11:44:32 AM

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