by J.C. Vogen

Created on: December 01, 2008   Last Updated: December 05, 2008

Introduction:
Throughout history, mankind has turned to prophets and sages in a quest to unlock the mysteries of the future. Even modern day society exhibits an interest in turning to mystical sources to predict future events, evidenced by horoscopes which occupy the pages of the majority of newspaper publications. While I may not be able to tell you how the alignment of Jupiter and Venus will affect your love life this month, I will provide an analytical examination of the recent events in the history of mankind, and how these events may provide an insight into what awaits us in the not so distant future.

Understanding the Past in Order to Understand the Future:

To understand the possible implications of the recent events which have taken place, I believe it is necessary to put things into perspective. For the sake of argument, assume the theory of evolution proves to be an accurate depiction of how mankind has come to arrive in its current state. Imagine a primitive version of man who is placed in a constant struggle for survival in a hostile world. This primitive version of man had much to learn about the world, and all the possibilities which exist to make life easier. Life had gone along unchanged for quite a while for this primitive man, until the miraculous day came where man learned how to interact with the environment. Grabbing a stick and examining it closely, man pondered what this stick could possibly be used for. What made man decide one day to utilize a stick as a tool, whereas the day before the thought would not have crossed his mind? Imagine witnessing this monumental moment in the development of mankind's intellect.

Mankind's Recent Intellectual Breakthrough:

What does man learning to use a stick as a tool have to do with the future of modern man? Modern man has managed to make yet another intellectual breakthrough, discovering a tool with far greater power than a stick. This tool has become part of everyday life for society, and while only in its infancy, it has managed to change our lives forever. The tool of which I speak is the very tool which I am using to write this article, the computer.

When mankind discovered the potential adaptation of using a stick as a tool, all the possible applications were not immediately known. Over the course of time, man learned to apply this tool to aiding with the necessities of life such as hunting and building shelters. The process of discovering the possible applications of a new tool is currently confronting

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