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BA Wagar Study Guide (1): Comprehension Questions
What are some of the main issues in Wagar? Please add your answers. Your answer will include paraphrased or quoted information from the text, as well as your opinion when it is appropriate to the question. This will help you to reveal the meaning of the text, as well as the range of opinions that exist within the class as a whole. By working together, BA will create a study guide for Wagar that will be useful for you individually in your personal analysis for the essay and the PWT.
Owen 2/14 at 10:41 a.m. I have decided to lock this page because some damage (most likely accidental) was done to the content between yesterday afternoon and this morning. Locking the page will preserve your answers so that no information is lost. However, it does mean that you if you wanted to revise your answers you will not be able to. To preserve your answers while you are preparing for the PWT, I think it is safer to lock the page.
Owen 2/13 at 4:58 p.m: Thank you. There are some very good answers here. I have tried not to change your wording, however, some answers were changed a bit where the meaning was not clear. For some other questions, I have also added my own answers. I think the work you have done here should be very useful in your preparation for the PWT.
The Next Three Futures W. Warren Wagar 1991
(end of Text Page 6)
1. “Each stage in history is but a prologue to the one that follows it, worlds without end.” What do you think Wagar means?
Dai: He means that each stage in history creates preconditions for the next stage and leads to it. Also, those changes happen continuously and do not stop.
Riri: He means that changes happen continuously. The present stage is just a part of endless line, which is lead by the previous one, and will lead to the next.
Satomi: He means that stages in the world history leads to next stages in the future like capitalism to socialism. It does not stop so that world continues to exist.
Tomoe: Wager means that each stage in world history make possible the emergence of the next stage, as feudalism gave birth to capitalism. Also he suggests the evolution of human beings is continuous and will not be broken off. Mayumi: He means that each stage in world history connect to another stage and lead to it. In addition, he explains that there is no end of the transition of stages.
(Text Page 1-2)
2. “The object of science and scholarship is always to inform and empower human will, not to paralyze it.” (313:20-22) Do you think this is mostly true, or untrue?
Dai: I think it is mostly untrue because humans are not always caring about others. Although curiosity is important for science and scholarship, profit is often more important for humans.
Riri: I think it true. Scientists and scholars' challenges certainly broaden human possibilities, though their consequences may not be favorable to everybody.
Satomi: I think it is mostly true because scientists make developments and achievements for peoples future even though it makes human confused.
Tomoe: I think it is mostly true, because scientists are just pursuing their interests (I think they do not try to discourage human will normally). However, the consequences of those acts can paralyze human will.
Mayumi: I think it is mostly untrue because sometimes scientists produce the worst result which paralyzes human will even when firstly the object was to empower human will.
3. Wagar suggests we are heading down the road to the 1st Future now. Can think of any real examples (organizations, events etc.) that might suggest this?
Dai: Economic gap between core countries which is called developed countries and other countries has been widening and although organizations like Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development are trying to narrow it, but it is still unsolved.
Riri: The North- South Divide: So called developed countries in the northern hemisphere grew to be wealthy with technology and colonizing other countries, on the other hand developing countries in the southern hemisphere are still undeveloped for fixed economic systems.
Satomi: The right to emit carbon dioxide: countries doing emission trading and rich countries buy the right to emit carbon dioxide from poor countries which emit much less. It will cause economic gap between those countries in the near future.
Tomoe: The forest protection activities by RICOH (1999～): They invest 1% of their profits got by selling products on this activity. So far the money was used for preservation of forests in 10 countries, such as China, Brazil, Philippines. Mayumi: Volvic: This company is symbolic example of gap between the rich and the poor. Rich people get to buy pure water. On the other hand, poor people gradually lost the place they can get water because of companies like Volvic.
1st Future (Text Pages 2-3)
4. Wagar often uses different words and phrases to describe his ‘First Future’. Which ones can you identify? Tomohiro: global liberal democratic capitalism (to be honest, I cannot understand what this question means)
Yuki: globalized liberal democratic capitalism, liberal capitalism
Masaaki: global liberal democratic capitalism, core countries, technoliberal capitalism, winners, losers, disintegration, revolution
Daisuke: global liberal democratic capitalism, technoliberal capitalism, liberal capitalism
Kyoko: I can identify globalized liberal democratic capitalism, technoliberal capitalism, liberal capitalism, capitalist world system, capitalism, winners, losers, (the game of high-stakes, high-tech, high-speed economic growth←?).
Owen: Good answers mostly, you can find some of the terms mentioned above at: (313:29): capitalism and bourgeois democracy (314:2-3): capitalist hegemony and universal representative democracy (314:8): globalized liberal democratic capitalism (314:21): capitalist world system (314:27): technoliberal capitalism (315:10): technoliberal capitalist world system (315:33): oligopoly capitalism
5. As simply as possible – what will life be like for people in the 1st Future scenario?
Tomohiro: It is almost the same as today`s world, globalized liberal democratic capitalism that seem to have a differential and discriminatory situation between winners and losers, which means issues between developed nations and developing nations.
Yuki: For the privileged classes people of the core countries and only a few rich people in developing countries, it will be prosperous life. However, for the rest of people, life will be toilsome and bare.
Masaaki: People roughly divided in two side: the winners (rich) and the losers (poor). The winners live La Dolce Vita. However, the losers life will be painful and bare.
Daisuke: It is the world that about a half population of rich countries and few people in poor countries are happy and the others lead a toilsome life, which is a similar situation as the present world.
Kyoko: It will be different between rich people (winners) and the others (losers). For rich people in economic-center countries, their hangers-on, and a small number of wealthy people in marginal countries life will be at least comfortable. For the rest, life will be severe.
6. What three factors would keep this system “humming” (= working, moving along)?
Tomohiro: Technological development, spread of marketing system in developing countries and utilizing resources . Yuki: Breakthroughs in technology, the exploitation of new markets in the former Second and Third Worlds, and the fresh energies released by the diffusion of political democracy
Masaaki: Progress of technology, market exploitation in developing country and liberalization of energy use
7. What factors will cause its “collapse”?
Owen: - anger and resentment (poor/rich, periphery/core)
- mounting costs of keeping the system running smoothly
- over-centralized system
- system-wide war
8. Who and/or what two factors might instigate the fall of the system?
Tomohiro: Antipathy to the differential and discriminatory situation and high cost to maintain it (I cannot see any difference between this question and last one).
Yuki: Resentment in the peripheral countries and amount of costs for keeping the system in place
Owen: As Tomohiro pointed out there may be some overlap between questions 8 & 9. However, two other factors are mentioned 315:11-21.
9. Is Wagar optimistic about the transition?
Masaaki: Definitely not the case. He is pointing out the revolution that can occur.
Daisuke: Yes. The world will have the next cycle of revolution which he thinks great or greater than the World Revolution of 1989.
Kyoko: Yes, he is ??
Owen: I agree with Masaaki. According to Wagar, the transition will be violent and will develop into a system-wide war 315:22-32.
2nd Future (Text Pages 3-5)
10. Wagar often uses different words and phrases to describe his ‘Second Future’. Which ones can you identify? Susumu: democratic socialism, democratic socialist world, social democracy, radical democracy
Yoshiki:
Mikiko: democratic socialism, social democracy, democratic socialist world order, radical democracy, and a world wide republic of working men and women.
Eri: democratic socialism, social democracy, democratic socialist world order, radical democracy
Haruka: Democratic socialism (pp.315 l.19), social democracy (l.23), democratic socialist world order (l.34), radical democracy (pp. 316 l.2), a worldwide republic of working men and women (l.5), the workers’ republic (l.14), the republic (l.17), worker democracy (pp.317 l.3), and a world republic (l.4).
11. As simply as possible – what will change/improve in the 2nd Future scenario?
Susumu: The environment will be recovered and equality will be promised. No war.
Yoshiki:
Mikiko: The equalization of people's wealth and opportunities, the restoration of the environment to pre-twentieth-century conditions, and the disarmament of national armies.
Eri: The environment will be recovered, the world will be equal, people get liberty, and war will end.
Haruka: The equality of wealth and opportunity, recovery of the environment, and disappearance of warfare will be accomplished.
12. One problem with the system is that to do the above (Q. 11) takes a long time (to reverse the effects) and an organized effort (to do so). What is another ‘danger’?
Susumu: Democratic socialism will not be with technology. so, it would be difficult to do it. Owen: I do not think this answer is accurate.
Yoshiki:
Mikiko: The emergence of the technological elites.
Owen: Wagar claims that the process of creating the workers' republic is bound to inherit many characteristics of the capitalist ancient regime and in doing so will sow the seeds for its own future demise 316:23-25, 35)
13. What might cause a change of system?
Mikiko:
Eri:
Haruka: In the workers’ republic, some workers will become experts and a new class order might be created where they are on the top. The system might be called the bureaucracy, not democratic socialism any more.
3rd Future (Text Pages 5-7)
14. Wagar often uses different words and phrases to describe his ‘Third Future’. Which ones can you identify?
Chiyuki: "The future beyond liberal capitalism and democratic socialism (pp.317 l.6-7)", "a classless society and the dying out of the state (l.10)", "individuals would then be free to choose their own destinies (l.11)"
Saori: The future which beyond liberal capitalism and democratic socialism.
Aiko: An age in which counterculturalist values have triumphed, in which people have managed to fend for themselves.
Asuka: "Everything will be possible, in our own backyards", "communism".
Masanori:
Owen: These examples can be found at:
(317:33) self-governing, self-supporting communities
(318:6) Ecotopian league of communities
(318:37) neo-romantic counterculture
(319:2) the counterculture
15. As simply as possible – how will people choose to live in the 3rd Future scenario?
Chiyuki: They will change their lifestyle as a matter of course and decide to live independently (pp.317 l.14-15).
Saori: They will decide to live by themselves.
Aiko: They will make their own choices.
Asuka: They will be free to choose their own destiny.
Masanori:
Owen: "Fundamental advances in miniaturized, low-energy technical systems" will make it possible for people to maintain themselves (fend for themselves), without depending on large-scale political or economic systems.
16. Do you agree with Wagar that people in the 3rd Future will “have learned the hard lessons…taught by modern history” and that they “will not let themselves be deceived”?
Chiyuki: No, I don't. Because if each person can have an access to (natural) resources, there will surely be some conflict among people who want to get more than others. As can be seen, even though self-governing community (pp.317 l.34) seems very ideal, I think it is difficult to put it into reality because of human nature, desire.
Saori: I agree with him because if people were allowed to have power equally, there would be no order to control people, and they would make rules or policies good for themselves.
17. Read the final paragraph starting on Text Page 6. How is the world doing in the new millennium so far?
Aiko: Three futures in the new millennium can be regarded as logical and inevitable stages in the evolution of humankind. This means that the world is helping humankind evolve through a series of stages.
Asuka: Wagar says that "Each stage in world history is but a prologue to the one that follows it" (319). However, in the new millennium, capitalism is still ascendant in the world and it seems that new stage is not appearing yet.
Masanori:
4th Future (Text Pages 7-8)
18. As simply as possible – what is the 4th scenario?
Ikuma: The author states in this section that human beings will go out into space for various aims and reasons such as scientific research and to escape from the limitations and frustrations of life on earth (p319 l.17).
Makiko: In the future, human beings will no longer be confined to Earth and our living space will expand across the universe. Furthermore, people will try to go to the outer solar system and we may contact with alien cultures. It will have a great impact on our lives and society.
Miku: "Our living space will expand spectacularly" (319 l.9) to the Moon, Mars, artificial habitats, and even the satellites of planets. People will move to other places to live and we may have contact with alien cultures which will influence our society, "intelligent life on earth" (320 l.21). We will interact with each other and unite for the future on the idea of pluralism.
Yuta: The 4th scenario explains the author’s imagination which may occur in the near future, such as living on the moon or meeting aliens.
19. Do you agree with Wagar’s sentiments in the last two paragraphs of the article? (Think back in time as well as forward.)
Ikuma: I disagree with him. The phrase "we are all one family" sounds great. However, I do not think that the fact that all human beings lived in caves is legitimate as a reason why we are all one family. Indeed, we human beings have evolved almost in the same way, caves to villages and suburban tracts. However, in reality, we are not the same culturally and socially. Therefore, I think his opinion is not convincing.
Makiko: No, I do not agree with him. From the very beginning, I do not think that we can contact with “aliens” or “intelligent life” in the same way as in human relationships. I think there may be intelligent life in the universe, but they may not be similar in their shape, behavior, and way of thinking to human beings. However, his opinion is one of our human dreams and it is great if what he says becomes reality in the future.
Miku: No, because as far as we live on different planets and cultivate our own cultures, we do not share "a common past". Also, there is no evidence that we share the same mechanism of thinking, feeling and expressing. It seems that what he implies by the word "alien" is someone or something similar to us. As Barna says, assumption of similarity causes stumbling blocks in intercultural communication. If what he says becomes reality, it would be great; however, I do not think it is likely to happen.
Yuta: No, because even if we meet aliens similar to us they came from a different planet with different culture and history. Therefore I think the author's opinion is too radical.
For those of you interested in the final visions presented by Wagar two recommended novels are:
Owen 2/14 at 10:41 a.m. I have decided to lock this page because some damage (most likely accidental) was done to the content between yesterday afternoon and this morning. Locking the page will preserve your answers so that no information is lost. However, it does mean that you if you wanted to revise your answers you will not be able to. To preserve your answers while you are preparing for the PWT, I think it is safer to lock the page.
Owen 2/13 at 4:58 p.m: Thank you. There are some very good answers here. I have tried not to change your wording, however, some answers were changed a bit where the meaning was not clear. For some other questions, I have also added my own answers. I think the work you have done here should be very useful in your preparation for the PWT.
The Next Three Futures W. Warren Wagar 1991
(end of Text Page 6)
1. “Each stage in history is but a prologue to the one that follows it, worlds without end.” What do you think Wagar means?
Dai: He means that each stage in history creates preconditions for the next stage and leads to it. Also, those changes happen continuously and do not stop.
Riri: He means that changes happen continuously. The present stage is just a part of endless line, which is lead by the previous one, and will lead to the next.
Satomi: He means that stages in the world history leads to next stages in the future like capitalism to socialism. It does not stop so that world continues to exist.
Tomoe: Wager means that each stage in world history make possible the emergence of the next stage, as feudalism gave birth to capitalism. Also he suggests the evolution of human beings is continuous and will not be broken off. Mayumi: He means that each stage in world history connect to another stage and lead to it. In addition, he explains that there is no end of the transition of stages.
(Text Page 1-2)
2. “The object of science and scholarship is always to inform and empower human will, not to paralyze it.” (313:20-22) Do you think this is mostly true, or untrue?
Dai: I think it is mostly untrue because humans are not always caring about others. Although curiosity is important for science and scholarship, profit is often more important for humans.
Riri: I think it true. Scientists and scholars' challenges certainly broaden human possibilities, though their consequences may not be favorable to everybody.
Satomi: I think it is mostly true because scientists make developments and achievements for peoples future even though it makes human confused.
Tomoe: I think it is mostly true, because scientists are just pursuing their interests (I think they do not try to discourage human will normally). However, the consequences of those acts can paralyze human will.
Mayumi: I think it is mostly untrue because sometimes scientists produce the worst result which paralyzes human will even when firstly the object was to empower human will.
3. Wagar suggests we are heading down the road to the 1st Future now. Can think of any real examples (organizations, events etc.) that might suggest this?
Dai: Economic gap between core countries which is called developed countries and other countries has been widening and although organizations like Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development are trying to narrow it, but it is still unsolved.
Riri: The North- South Divide: So called developed countries in the northern hemisphere grew to be wealthy with technology and colonizing other countries, on the other hand developing countries in the southern hemisphere are still undeveloped for fixed economic systems.
Satomi: The right to emit carbon dioxide: countries doing emission trading and rich countries buy the right to emit carbon dioxide from poor countries which emit much less. It will cause economic gap between those countries in the near future.
Tomoe: The forest protection activities by RICOH (1999～): They invest 1% of their profits got by selling products on this activity. So far the money was used for preservation of forests in 10 countries, such as China, Brazil, Philippines. Mayumi: Volvic: This company is symbolic example of gap between the rich and the poor. Rich people get to buy pure water. On the other hand, poor people gradually lost the place they can get water because of companies like Volvic.
1st Future (Text Pages 2-3)
4. Wagar often uses different words and phrases to describe his ‘First Future’. Which ones can you identify? Tomohiro: global liberal democratic capitalism (to be honest, I cannot understand what this question means)
Yuki: globalized liberal democratic capitalism, liberal capitalism
Masaaki: global liberal democratic capitalism, core countries, technoliberal capitalism, winners, losers, disintegration, revolution
Daisuke: global liberal democratic capitalism, technoliberal capitalism, liberal capitalism
Kyoko: I can identify globalized liberal democratic capitalism, technoliberal capitalism, liberal capitalism, capitalist world system, capitalism, winners, losers, (the game of high-stakes, high-tech, high-speed economic growth←?).
Owen: Good answers mostly, you can find some of the terms mentioned above at: (313:29): capitalism and bourgeois democracy (314:2-3): capitalist hegemony and universal representative democracy (314:8): globalized liberal democratic capitalism (314:21): capitalist world system (314:27): technoliberal capitalism (315:10): technoliberal capitalist world system (315:33): oligopoly capitalism
5. As simply as possible – what will life be like for people in the 1st Future scenario?
Tomohiro: It is almost the same as today`s world, globalized liberal democratic capitalism that seem to have a differential and discriminatory situation between winners and losers, which means issues between developed nations and developing nations.
Yuki: For the privileged classes people of the core countries and only a few rich people in developing countries, it will be prosperous life. However, for the rest of people, life will be toilsome and bare.
Masaaki: People roughly divided in two side: the winners (rich) and the losers (poor). The winners live La Dolce Vita. However, the losers life will be painful and bare.
Daisuke: It is the world that about a half population of rich countries and few people in poor countries are happy and the others lead a toilsome life, which is a similar situation as the present world.
Kyoko: It will be different between rich people (winners) and the others (losers). For rich people in economic-center countries, their hangers-on, and a small number of wealthy people in marginal countries life will be at least comfortable. For the rest, life will be severe.
6. What three factors would keep this system “humming” (= working, moving along)?
Tomohiro: Technological development, spread of marketing system in developing countries and utilizing resources . Yuki: Breakthroughs in technology, the exploitation of new markets in the former Second and Third Worlds, and the fresh energies released by the diffusion of political democracy
Masaaki: Progress of technology, market exploitation in developing country and liberalization of energy use
7. What factors will cause its “collapse”?
| CAUSE | EXAMPLES/DETAILS |
| Daisuke: 1) Radical critics of the capitalist world system | It will disintegrate the system by the end of worldwide business expansion in the 2030s, or maybe earlier. |
| Kyoko: 2) The anger of peripheral nations | They get angry because they cannot participate in the economic activities the core countries of capitalism |
| Tomohiro: 3) Antipathy to the differences of the situation and the high cost to maintain them. | Capitalism produce winner and losers. Servicing deficits, military cost to maintain the development poor countries and so on. |
| Yuki: 4) The anger and resentment of many nations that never succeed in gaining admission to the heartland of the world system | No examples given |
- mounting costs of keeping the system running smoothly
- over-centralized system
- system-wide war
8. Who and/or what two factors might instigate the fall of the system?
Tomohiro: Antipathy to the differential and discriminatory situation and high cost to maintain it (I cannot see any difference between this question and last one).
Yuki: Resentment in the peripheral countries and amount of costs for keeping the system in place
Owen: As Tomohiro pointed out there may be some overlap between questions 8 & 9. However, two other factors are mentioned 315:11-21.
9. Is Wagar optimistic about the transition?
Masaaki: Definitely not the case. He is pointing out the revolution that can occur.
Daisuke: Yes. The world will have the next cycle of revolution which he thinks great or greater than the World Revolution of 1989.
Kyoko: Yes, he is ??
Owen: I agree with Masaaki. According to Wagar, the transition will be violent and will develop into a system-wide war 315:22-32.
2nd Future (Text Pages 3-5)
10. Wagar often uses different words and phrases to describe his ‘Second Future’. Which ones can you identify? Susumu: democratic socialism, democratic socialist world, social democracy, radical democracy
Yoshiki:
Mikiko: democratic socialism, social democracy, democratic socialist world order, radical democracy, and a world wide republic of working men and women.
Eri: democratic socialism, social democracy, democratic socialist world order, radical democracy
Haruka: Democratic socialism (pp.315 l.19), social democracy (l.23), democratic socialist world order (l.34), radical democracy (pp. 316 l.2), a worldwide republic of working men and women (l.5), the workers’ republic (l.14), the republic (l.17), worker democracy (pp.317 l.3), and a world republic (l.4).
11. As simply as possible – what will change/improve in the 2nd Future scenario?
Susumu: The environment will be recovered and equality will be promised. No war.
Yoshiki:
Mikiko: The equalization of people's wealth and opportunities, the restoration of the environment to pre-twentieth-century conditions, and the disarmament of national armies.
Eri: The environment will be recovered, the world will be equal, people get liberty, and war will end.
Haruka: The equality of wealth and opportunity, recovery of the environment, and disappearance of warfare will be accomplished.
12. One problem with the system is that to do the above (Q. 11) takes a long time (to reverse the effects) and an organized effort (to do so). What is another ‘danger’?
Susumu: Democratic socialism will not be with technology. so, it would be difficult to do it. Owen: I do not think this answer is accurate.
Yoshiki:
Mikiko: The emergence of the technological elites.
Owen: Wagar claims that the process of creating the workers' republic is bound to inherit many characteristics of the capitalist ancient regime and in doing so will sow the seeds for its own future demise 316:23-25, 35)
13. What might cause a change of system?
Mikiko:
Eri:
Haruka: In the workers’ republic, some workers will become experts and a new class order might be created where they are on the top. The system might be called the bureaucracy, not democratic socialism any more.
3rd Future (Text Pages 5-7)
14. Wagar often uses different words and phrases to describe his ‘Third Future’. Which ones can you identify?
Chiyuki: "The future beyond liberal capitalism and democratic socialism (pp.317 l.6-7)", "a classless society and the dying out of the state (l.10)", "individuals would then be free to choose their own destinies (l.11)"
Saori: The future which beyond liberal capitalism and democratic socialism.
Aiko: An age in which counterculturalist values have triumphed, in which people have managed to fend for themselves.
Asuka: "Everything will be possible, in our own backyards", "communism".
Masanori:
Owen: These examples can be found at:
(317:33) self-governing, self-supporting communities
(318:6) Ecotopian league of communities
(318:37) neo-romantic counterculture
(319:2) the counterculture
15. As simply as possible – how will people choose to live in the 3rd Future scenario?
Chiyuki: They will change their lifestyle as a matter of course and decide to live independently (pp.317 l.14-15).
Saori: They will decide to live by themselves.
Aiko: They will make their own choices.
Asuka: They will be free to choose their own destiny.
Masanori:
Owen: "Fundamental advances in miniaturized, low-energy technical systems" will make it possible for people to maintain themselves (fend for themselves), without depending on large-scale political or economic systems.
16. Do you agree with Wagar that people in the 3rd Future will “have learned the hard lessons…taught by modern history” and that they “will not let themselves be deceived”?
Chiyuki: No, I don't. Because if each person can have an access to (natural) resources, there will surely be some conflict among people who want to get more than others. As can be seen, even though self-governing community (pp.317 l.34) seems very ideal, I think it is difficult to put it into reality because of human nature, desire.
Saori: I agree with him because if people were allowed to have power equally, there would be no order to control people, and they would make rules or policies good for themselves.
17. Read the final paragraph starting on Text Page 6. How is the world doing in the new millennium so far?
Aiko: Three futures in the new millennium can be regarded as logical and inevitable stages in the evolution of humankind. This means that the world is helping humankind evolve through a series of stages.
Asuka: Wagar says that "Each stage in world history is but a prologue to the one that follows it" (319). However, in the new millennium, capitalism is still ascendant in the world and it seems that new stage is not appearing yet.
Masanori:
4th Future (Text Pages 7-8)
18. As simply as possible – what is the 4th scenario?
Ikuma: The author states in this section that human beings will go out into space for various aims and reasons such as scientific research and to escape from the limitations and frustrations of life on earth (p319 l.17).
Makiko: In the future, human beings will no longer be confined to Earth and our living space will expand across the universe. Furthermore, people will try to go to the outer solar system and we may contact with alien cultures. It will have a great impact on our lives and society.
Miku: "Our living space will expand spectacularly" (319 l.9) to the Moon, Mars, artificial habitats, and even the satellites of planets. People will move to other places to live and we may have contact with alien cultures which will influence our society, "intelligent life on earth" (320 l.21). We will interact with each other and unite for the future on the idea of pluralism.
Yuta: The 4th scenario explains the author’s imagination which may occur in the near future, such as living on the moon or meeting aliens.
19. Do you agree with Wagar’s sentiments in the last two paragraphs of the article? (Think back in time as well as forward.)
Ikuma: I disagree with him. The phrase "we are all one family" sounds great. However, I do not think that the fact that all human beings lived in caves is legitimate as a reason why we are all one family. Indeed, we human beings have evolved almost in the same way, caves to villages and suburban tracts. However, in reality, we are not the same culturally and socially. Therefore, I think his opinion is not convincing.
Makiko: No, I do not agree with him. From the very beginning, I do not think that we can contact with “aliens” or “intelligent life” in the same way as in human relationships. I think there may be intelligent life in the universe, but they may not be similar in their shape, behavior, and way of thinking to human beings. However, his opinion is one of our human dreams and it is great if what he says becomes reality in the future.
Miku: No, because as far as we live on different planets and cultivate our own cultures, we do not share "a common past". Also, there is no evidence that we share the same mechanism of thinking, feeling and expressing. It seems that what he implies by the word "alien" is someone or something similar to us. As Barna says, assumption of similarity causes stumbling blocks in intercultural communication. If what he says becomes reality, it would be great; however, I do not think it is likely to happen.
Yuta: No, because even if we meet aliens similar to us they came from a different planet with different culture and history. Therefore I think the author's opinion is too radical.
For those of you interested in the final visions presented by Wagar two recommended novels are:
- Earth by David Brin
- Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (first of an amazing trilogy with Green Mars & Blue Mars)
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