"Obviously, I can't grow a 5000 year old baby along side a modern example so any experimental proof is out of the question. However, I promise you that I will convince you of Fang's conclusion, or rather ... about Fang's new Time Thesis."
By this time, we had walked into the Hall of Ancient Fish. I mentally wondered what we were doing here and how it all would fit with this new, "Time Thesis."
Sam continued,
"Let's start with the popular -- but erroneous -- assumption about ancient man. Stated simply, the old academics say:"
"Sometime, about 5000 years ago, We (up went those wiggly fingers, again) decided to stop our loping across some primeval savannah, hunting .. surviving -- looking only for our next meal .."
Sam arms went up.
".. and then, for no apparent reason, We suddenly settled down, and began to build great cities. Much of what passes for education, today, attempts to bypass these beginnings, and tries to pass on authoritative opinions."
He continued,
"Those old professor's said that We (again, the fingers) quickly took out our handy instruction book and began building not only cities .. but transportation networks, systems of engineering, mathematics and social structures ... everywhere ... and in all corners of the earth."
"Then, a short time later We (wiggle, wiggle .. I looked away) set up Universities to philosophize and teach others what We had just done."
"Now you might object to my use of the words, "suddenly," "quickly," and "short time later." However, hold these thoughts," Sam said, "We'll get back to this assumption, later."
I still did not understand where he was going with all this.
"Now just wait a minute," I said, trying to slow Sam, down.
"... much has changed in the last 5000 years."
"True," Sam jumped in, "... but these "changes" are changes in our technologies ... not necessarily changes to ourselves. Now, don't confuse the two - they really are different."
Sam paused ... I could see him thinking ... trying to find another way to explain to me what he had been saying.
Sam continued,
"If the Celts had machine-gun technology when the Romans came, then that technology would have changed ancient England and we would now behold a much different England, today."
"Well .. Ok ... I can understand that," I said.
Sam insisted,
"... ignoring the artifacts each generation makes for itself, the point still remains -- those people, then, have the same .. identical capacities to think and act just as we do, now."
"We are Them and They are Us! ... Now do you get it?"
I responded,
"Well .. I think so. In a modern context, you mean that ... If someone gives a machine gun to an uneducated, disgruntled, dispossessed villager ... he can change the course of history ... locally ... globally?"
Sam saw that a dim bulb had been turned on in my head. He said,
"Right, I am really talking how We have always had the capacities to respond to life's daily events and opportunities .. that is what is important .. not the experience, itself."
"What We knew then and what We know, now ... is not and cannot be a basis to measure the differences in Us ... over time. (... Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!)
He pontificated,
"The 'apples' of technology of yesterday are not comparable with the 'oranges' of technology of today...but the makers are no different."
Then he added,
"... not only has Fang now proven this thesis, but there is something more ... something we had not known, until now!"
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