If you did have to repopulate the world....

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: ironwing
I see no reason why I would want to repopulate the earth with people.

So you would have sex with a fish or something?

 

[Foxery]

Originally posted by: OdiN
How much of a parallel do you think there would be to the previous time during which these things developed? People would have to live as an agrarian society out of necessity.

I'll bite. Assuming some of the survivors are educated, the mere knowledge of what is possible would greatly accelerate the rebuilding of science. i.e. The first time around, it took a long time for creative geniuses to come along and invent things that had never before been conceived. This time, mechanically inclined folks can get right to work building known devices, with a clear goal in mind. Sure, it'd be frustrating without easy access to books, but still much quicker than a blank slate.

A few college grads would put humanity's understanding of the world somewhere around early 1800s levels for what they could achieve immediately, and they'd know that electrical devices and combustion engines would eventually be feasible. The lack of manpower is an issue, but I bet if your post-apocalyptic society put forth the effort, (and skipped all of the historical periods of wars, famine, plagues, etc. that set us back,) it could get back to a 1950s-level of modern technology in a century or two - a far cry from 5000 years.

 

[Foxery]

BTW, repopulating also isn't so bad - again, if we made a coordinated effort to rebuild ASAP. Say we start out with 500 humans, with enough genetic diversity to manage. Assume normal monogomas marriages, and we go back to the old days of having ~8 kids.
Gen 1: 500
Gen 2: 2,000
Gen 3: 8,000
Gen 4: 32,000
Gen 5: 128,000

Europe could be back to its medieval population levels in <200 years.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Foxery

Originally posted by: OdiN
How much of a parallel do you think there would be to the previous time during which these things developed? People would have to live as an agrarian society out of necessity.

I'll bite. Assuming some of the survivors are educated, the mere knowledge of what is possible would greatly accelerate the rebuilding of science. i.e. The first time around, it took a long time for creative geniuses to come along and invent things that had never before been conceived. This time, mechanically inclined folks can get right to work building known devices, with a clear goal in mind. Sure, it'd be frustrating without easy access to books, but still much quicker than a blank slate.

A few college grads would put humanity's understanding of the world somewhere around early 1800s levels for what they could achieve immediately, and they'd know that electrical devices and combustion engines would eventually be feasible. The lack of manpower is an issue, but I bet if your post-apocalyptic society put forth the effort, (and skipped all of the historical periods of wars, famine, plagues, etc. that set us back,) it could get back to a 1950s-level of modern technology in a century or two - a far cry from 5000 years.

And when do you think "a few college grads" would have the time? Before or after their 18 hour day just trying to raise enough food, find water and shelter? Most college grads have no idea how to camp in the 21st century let alone live in the 18th or earlier.

You've seen the idiots in the various reality shows right? Granted the reality shows have little to do with their namesake but, do you really see your average bunch of people willing to provide for your "college grads" while they reinvent civilization? Bwahahahaha!

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Sex, drugs and blast rock n' roll until all the batteries run out.

To hell with repopulating the world.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: OdiN
I'm just saying that...for whatever reason all the buildings/technology is demolished. You've got basic tools only. Just a hypothetical situation. There is more than enough ways to survive, but you'd have to work together and farm the land and build shelters and such yourselves.

basic hand tools, but no existing medicine, etc?

im thinking they'd all die pretty fast. what about weather?

i dont think they would be able to care for children well.

Well maybe some basic medicies too, or some basic knowledge of it - someone would know some things and they'd have to teach it...

For weather - you could live in moderate areas that don't get super cold in the winter or super hot in the summer. Costal areas in CA would probably not be too bad and be easily survivable.

 

[OdiN]

But - we would be starting with knowledge already of more advanced things.

We would already have language.

I think things would progress faster than they did in the past, but some things would no doubt be lost due to having to be more of an agrarian society and then later would have to be rediscovered.

In a sense, it would sort of create an alternate reality - say things we have now with names after those who discovered them - those would change, etc.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I think you need to read some more history. Technology and civilization did not smoothly rise in ever increasing complexity. It rose in fits and starts and sometimes took thousands of years to surpass what had gone before.

If you limit your survivors to 100, humanity will die. Even if you hand picked the 100 people, I would bet long odds against.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: Foxery
BTW, repopulating also isn't so bad - again, if we made a coordinated effort to rebuild ASAP. Say we start out with 500 humans, with enough genetic diversity to manage. Assume normal monogomas marriages, and we go back to the old days of having ~8 kids.
Gen 1: 500
Gen 2: 2,000
Gen 3: 8,000
Gen 4: 32,000
Gen 5: 128,000

Europe could be back to its medieval population levels in <200 years.

Without modern medicine. Many of those kids won't live long enough to breed. And many of those women will die in labor.

 

[Bignate603]

100 years ago we would have a chance. Now 100 average people wouldn't have enough skills or know how to grow their own food or a million other things that they'll need to do.

 

[aesthetics]

I'm amazing. I could do it... all on my own.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: Bignate603
100 years ago we would have a chance. Now 100 average people wouldn't have enough skills or know how to grow their own food or a million other things that they'll need to do.

Too true.
I'm amazed at the number of teens now that cannot cook, wash clothes, or even change a tire.

 

[Whitecloak]

I would first ensure that you are dead.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: aesthetics
I'm amazing. I could do it... all on my own.

Like any good bacteria.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: OdiN

I think things would progress faster than they did in the past, but some things would no doubt be lost due to having to be more of an agrarian society and then later would have to be rediscovered.

How many centuries did man say that heavier that air flying machines are impossible? We would know that it is possible (provided no treadmills are involved). We wouldn't even try to bolt a 12 hp 200 pound engine to an airframe... we would start with a lightweight engine for example.

So I think things would progress much faster.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: OdiN

I think things would progress faster than they did in the past, but some things would no doubt be lost due to having to be more of an agrarian society and then later would have to be rediscovered.

How many centuries did man say that heavier that air flying machines are impossible? We would know that it is possible (provided no treadmills are involved). We wouldn't even try to bolt a 12 hp 200 pound engine to an airframe... we would start with a lightweight engine for example.

So I think things would progress much faster.

And where are the refined metals, metal lathes, fuel, and airframe coming from?

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: Foxery
BTW, repopulating also isn't so bad - again, if we made a coordinated effort to rebuild ASAP. Say we start out with 500 humans, with enough genetic diversity to manage. Assume normal monogomas marriages, and we go back to the old days of having ~8 kids.
Gen 1: 500
Gen 2: 2,000
Gen 3: 8,000
Gen 4: 32,000
Gen 5: 128,000

Europe could be back to its medieval population levels in <200 years.

all of the retained collective human knowledge would die after gen 1, unless all you do is sit around and write books non-stop, which would assume you have the time to teach all the children literacy, and even then you'll never fully convey all of your ideas (basic mechanics, technology, basic medicine, basic government/group dynamics, basic foraging, basic tools, craft, music, health, anything), and this is all if you have time outside of looking for food and manging basic survival...

ive changed my mind. people would die. FAST

 

[Modelworks]

This reminds me of a discussion I had with a friend.
If you could go back in time say, 400 years, only bringing yourself , what technology could you bring to the time.
We talked about things like electricity, medicine, etc. until we realized that we didn't have all the knowledge needed to make all these things from scratch when we broke them down to the technology of the time and what parts of what we were considering we actually knew how to make.

I know electricity well, but if I had to start from scratch I would have no idea how to make some of the basics like wire from ore, or making magnets for a generator.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: rudder

Originally posted by: OdiN

I think things would progress faster than they did in the past, but some things would no doubt be lost due to having to be more of an agrarian society and then later would have to be rediscovered.

How many centuries did man say that heavier that air flying machines are impossible? We would know that it is possible (provided no treadmills are involved). We wouldn't even try to bolt a 12 hp 200 pound engine to an airframe... we would start with a lightweight engine for example.

So I think things would progress much faster.

And where are the refined metals, metal lathes, fuel, and airframe coming from?

Exactly. Without somebody that knows how to mine, refine, process, and machine the metal it doesn't matter that you know its possible. People seem to discount the complication of the things we use every day. It's amazing that we can even make half the stuff we do.

While I understand the general idea of how modern things like microchips work it still seems like we shouldn't be able to make them, let alone have them cost so little.

 

[tfinch2]

I just came in here to shit in this thread, like Odin does to everyone else's.

 

[0roo0roo]

pretty dire.
could you build a working sewer system?
you'd have to first manufacture things like steel and concrete. never mind the rest of the complex system.
basic infrastructure would be hard. first farm yields would have to be able to support advancing of society. without that u have nothing

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: aesthetics
I'm amazing. I could do it... all on my own.

You're gonna need to have someone to have sex with you...

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
I just came in here to shit in this thread, like Odin does to everyone else's.

Except I don't do that....

 

[ed21x]

well, certain concepts like irrigation, making fire to keep warm, and having wheels would help advance civilization thousands of years since they were things man stumbled upon long ago at different points in history. After fire is controlled, you can start purifying ore and making stuff with metal, which you can make nails with in order to put basic structures together. Use fiber from leaves to make rope and then make a huge net for getting fish. Rain catchment, etc... actually we can advance to middle-age agrarian society pretty quickly based on knowledge alone.

 

[shoRunner]

if the people were hand selected for their knowledge in certain fields, I'm pretty sure we could be up and running in no time.