KingHydron t1_ivo7v1r wrote on November 9, 2022 at 12:01 PM

Reply to comment by joker1288 in Does History Repeat Itself? Cyclical theories of the past rest on questionable assumptions, but can they still help us understand our future? by CPHfuturesstudies

The Technological Determinism Theory:

The technological determinism theory states that the technology of a society is what determines the development of its social structures and cultural values.

I see your point however, the 'cycle' here is that fact that technology changes/influences society. This will repeat iteself as new ways of communicating are introduced.

joker1288 t1_ivo8cc3 wrote on November 9, 2022 at 12:06 PM

Ok? Thats a theory…. From one perspective. That doesn’t mean it is the definition of societal development. That would mean that ancient Greeks were a highly advanced modern society with their analog computers that they had for computations for the sky and sailing purposes or there use of steam engines in Alexandria that were used in temples. Doesn’t work. From Industrial Revolution to today it is our material sciences that have advanced. I would argue that culture has a larger impact on the tech side as well.

KingHydron t1_ivoa88o wrote on November 9, 2022 at 12:25 PM

Society is advancing faster as a result of scientific/technological advancements. Education, political awareness, freedom of information. These things affect the rate of change in a society. In the past 10 years social opinions on racism, lgbtq+, mysogony etc have changed massively. To deny the rate of change has been impacted is simply incorrect.

Also, the question is not referring to societal development specifically. It was asked in a much broader sense. Is the future 100 years from now harder to predict than from 1250 to 1350? Yes. The length of the cycles are changing and/or the patterns observed in these cycles are changing.