An excellent summary of what can no longer be understood. There are multiple historical examples of great civilizations that somehow collapsed into a dark age defined by ignorance, bigotry, and hatred.

Historians have spent centuries trying to understand how this could happen. We are seeing it now. Athenian ‘philosophers’ understood the diameter of the earth and experimented with logical system and steam power. Rome built on this with practical engineering. But then it collapsed into ignorance, feudalism, and religious mythology.

There are other examples. But there is a difference. In the past it was a minority that understood the new knowledge. The masses had not escaped mythology and fear.

We have a majority in the post industrial world who are appalled at the ignorance and worship of the ignorant and hateful. We are limited by our principles of egalitarianism and respect. But we must make that into an effective weapon to stop the plunge into darkness. We have the knowledge and the power. We need only use it. Forceful protection of rights and knowledge is required now.