The exceptional Nature of American Creativity

[sayak83]

Since the 2nd world war, all the major technological and scientific revolutions of the world have happened in America ( before that it was mostly Europe). Even though, today, many developed countries in Europe and East Asia are at par or exceed the US in Human Development index, they appear to not make any truly revolutionary leaps in science and technology. Let me point to a few examples
Nuclear Energy
Computers and their original software and semiconductor development (Unix, Mac, Windows, Intel)
Rockets and space shuttle
Commercial rocket systems
Genetics and current Crispr and gene technology
Quantum Computing
AI and large language software
Internet and Social Network systems

I have no idea why this is the case (do not think anybody does). But if US actually stagnates, as many believe here, I foresee a overall stagnation of the world in many fields of knowledge....which will not be a good thing at all.
Thoughts?

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

I'd say that science and technology can require money. Large amounts of money might require a good economy. Also, the best tech usually builds on previous tech, so not starting from scratch might require years of research and development before-hand. Starting from scratch with tech is possible, but usually doesn't have the same results.

 

[PoetPhilosopher]

But if US actually stagnates, as many believe here, I foresee a overall stagnation of the world in many fields of knowledge....which will not be a good thing at all.

I agree with this, as well.

Info on some technology may be closed off and proprietary, but even so... The effect would still be similar to libraries shutting down, in my opinion.

 

[Heyo]

Since the 2nd world war, all the major technological and scientific revolutions of the world have happened in America ( before that it was mostly Europe). Even though, today, many developed countries in Europe and East Asia are at par or exceed the US in Human Development index, they appear to not make any truly revolutionary leaps in science and technology. Let me point to a few examples
Nuclear Energy
Computers and their original software and semiconductor development (Unix, Mac, Windows, Intel)
Rockets and space shuttle
Commercial rocket systems
Genetics and current Crispr and gene technology
Quantum Computing
AI and large language software
Internet and Social Network systems

I have no idea why this is the case (do not think anybody does). But if US actually stagnates, as many believe here, I foresee a overall stagnation of the world in many fields of knowledge....which will not be a good thing at all.
Thoughts?

I don't think the technological supremacy is as great as it seems at first sight. Many developments are still made outside of the US, even though their commercial application is often driven by US companies - or, better, international companies which are nominally seated in the US.
Example rockets: the USSR had them earlier than the US, and they were often better and cheaper. Almost all advances in space fare were Russian, except the first manned Moon landing. (And the Russians didn't even get the better batch of German scientists.)
Example internet: the Arpanet was developed in the US, but the WWW was developed in Switzerland.
Example manufacturing: most of the machines in any factory on the Earth are developed and produced in Germany.

So, it's less the innovations than the commercial applications. The US is friendly towards entrepreneurs, with little oversight and low taxes. Many of the innovators aren't originally from the US, like many of the scientists.

 

[RestlessSoul]

The list of Soviet and Russian Nobel Laureattes is rather long. Too long for me to cut and paste it here, in fact, so here's a link

List of Russian Nobel laureates - Wikipedia

 

[Heyo]

The list of Soviet and Russian Nobel Laureattes is rather long. Too long for me to cut and paste it here, in fact, so here's a link

List of Russian Nobel laureates - Wikipedia

The list of US Nobel laureates is longer - but not if you exclude immigrants.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

It is true that many scientific advances have been commercialised by American companies. But the original inventions are more often from other countries or by foreign born scientists.
Of more recent times China has become a leading player in research and development.
Especially in communications, infrastructure, space science, AI, medicine, and advanced technology especially. Processing rare earths, and new energy. It is also the leader in EV design and manufacture.

Germany and Switzerland remain the leader in high precision machine tools. And Holland the out right leader in UV Lithography equipment. While Taiwan and S Korea are thr leaders in chip manufacturing.

Ship building is again led by China.

Over all there is very little where The USA still dominate.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Since the 2nd world war, all the major technological and scientific revolutions of the world have happened in America ( before that it was mostly Europe). Even though, today, many developed countries in Europe and East Asia are at par or exceed the US in Human Development index, they appear to not make any truly revolutionary leaps in science and technology. Let me point to a few examples
Nuclear Energy
Computers and their original software and semiconductor development (Unix, Mac, Windows, Intel)
Rockets and space shuttle
Commercial rocket systems
Genetics and current Crispr and gene technology
Quantum Computing
AI and large language software
Internet and Social Network systems

I have no idea why this is the case (do not think anybody does). But if US actually stagnates, as many believe here, I foresee a overall stagnation of the world in many fields of knowledge....which will not be a good thing at all.
Thoughts?

A lot of technological brain power belongs to foreign people who were accommodated by the US.

 

[Altfish]

Since the 2nd world war, all the major technological and scientific revolutions of the world have happened in America ( before that it was mostly Europe). Even though, today, many developed countries in Europe and East Asia are at par or exceed the US in Human Development index, they appear to not make any truly revolutionary leaps in science and technology. Let me point to a few examples
Nuclear Energy
Computers and their original software and semiconductor development (Unix, Mac, Windows, Intel)
Rockets and space shuttle
Commercial rocket systems
Genetics and current Crispr and gene technology
Quantum Computing
AI and large language software
Internet and Social Network systems

I have no idea why this is the case (do not think anybody does). But if US actually stagnates, as many believe here, I foresee a overall stagnation of the world in many fields of knowledge....which will not be a good thing at all.
Thoughts?

Computers were started in the UK - the majority in your list are IT based examples.
Rockets by Germany
Mendel was the originator of genetics - I think he was German (maybe Austrian)

The US is good at taking technology, throwing money at it and developing it.

 

[Audie]

Since the 2nd world war, all the major technological and scientific revolutions of the world have happened in America ( before that it was mostly Europe). Even though, today, many developed countries in Europe and East Asia are at par or exceed the US in Human Development index, they appear to not make any truly revolutionary leaps in science and technology. Let me point to a few examples
Nuclear Energy
Computers and their original software and semiconductor development (Unix, Mac, Windows, Intel)
Rockets and space shuttle
Commercial rocket systems
Genetics and current Crispr and gene technology
Quantum Computing
AI and large language software
Internet and Social Network systems

I have no idea why this is the case (do not think anybody does). But if US actually stagnates, as many believe here, I foresee a overall stagnation of the world in many fields of knowledge....which will not be a good thing at all.
Thoughts?

I think the world would get along fine
without usa and its self styled " exceptionalism".

 

[wellwisher]

Since the 2nd world war, all the major technological and scientific revolutions of the world have happened in America ( before that it was mostly Europe). Even though, today, many developed countries in Europe and East Asia are at par or exceed the US in Human Development index, they appear to not make any truly revolutionary leaps in science and technology. Let me point to a few examples
Nuclear Energy
Computers and their original software and semiconductor development (Unix, Mac, Windows, Intel)
Rockets and space shuttle
Commercial rocket systems
Genetics and current Crispr and gene technology
Quantum Computing
AI and large language software
Internet and Social Network systems

I have no idea why this is the case (do not think anybody does). But if US actually stagnates, as many believe here, I foresee a overall stagnation of the world in many fields of knowledge....which will not be a good thing at all.
Thoughts?

Much of this is connected to the young age of America. America has such a short history, we are less inhibited by old time sustained traditions. Innovation is outside the box and the walls of the US box are thinner.

The settling of the West and the wagon trains is part of the America spirit of adventure and diving into the unknown to start fresh. This identity is helpful for innovation. The Wild West allowed citizens to control law; get the job done without lawyers and politicians.

The free market economy is also important, since competition forces business, to make things cheaper, better and newer, to make money. Money is also reinvested to make more new money, while the investment competition forces investment for innovation.

If you have central control, by lawyers; politicians, what do they know of practical innovation? Electric Cars in the USA was forced by Government ahead of free market demand. Without the Government rebate, this added up to being too expensive, and not good enough, to compete at the top of the free market. It had no profit to drive its innovation. If this had been done in a free market organic way, it would have had a smaller first offering, and use that smaller niche to compete. This is what it had defaulted too, but without more tax payer waste. Larger market share will need investment and more innovation. In fast paced business that needs innovation, do not get too big, too fast, or you will implode.

Too much of Europe and rest of the free world are Big Government; Socialists, which kills innovation, since politicians will not take chances. They lack the skills to innovate. It is about bull crap and illusions. They will try to control, what they sort of know, and then mess up the free market innovation mechanism. You need to free up the free market mechanism. Selling misinformation and fabricating lies, although creative, is not a practical form of tangible innovation. Innovative gossip in the rags, has no practical use; cesspool.

 

[Revoltingest]

I think the world would get along fine
without usa and its self styled " exceptionalism".

Speak for yourself, toots!
I like being here.
Had Ameristan remained a British colony,
then we too would be eating spoiled haggis
kept in refrigerators made by the Prince Of
Darkness (Lucas Electric).

For anyone interested, I recall this being an
interesting podcast...

The Pros and Cons of America’s (Extreme) Individualism - Freakonomics

The Pros and Cons of America’s (Extreme) Individualism - Freakonomics

freakonomics.com

 

[Revoltingest]

Creativity in USA appears to be threatened by
the syndrome of success-leading-to-comfort.
I've seen it in both business & government, ie,
that when things have long been going along
swimmingly, success is taken for granted.

Resting on one's laurels is a recipe for sloth.
Students don't work so hard, teachers don't
push so hard, government rewards indolence,
businesses think their old model will work
forever, & even the wealthy spend the principal.
(I believe that last one is even a biblical sin.)

 

[Brickjectivity]

Thoughts?

Mostly guesses. First I absolutely appreciate and admire the exceptional people who have noticed and made use of discoveries.

Some overwhelming factors of why inventions have thrived are I think:
1. Climate and plentiful food.
2. Hunger for destiny and lack of a common past.
3. Help through the tough times. France helped us out at their own expense and was the prototype America.

 

[Heyo]

I'd say that science and technology can require money. Large amounts of money might require a good economy. Also, the best tech usually builds on previous tech, so not starting from scratch might require years of research and development before-hand. Starting from scratch with tech is possible, but usually doesn't have the same results.

They say that war is the mother of invention. And by the bellicose nature of the US and their overblown defence attack budget, they created DARPA, which has financed many inventions, e.g. ARPAnet which became the internet. Also, the interest in space exploration is mostly fuelled, and paid for, by military interests. Or, at least it was, since the collapse of the USSR the "space race" has basically ended and NASA's budget stagnates since then.

 

[Stevicus]

Since the 2nd world war, all the major technological and scientific revolutions of the world have happened in America ( before that it was mostly Europe). Even though, today, many developed countries in Europe and East Asia are at par or exceed the US in Human Development index, they appear to not make any truly revolutionary leaps in science and technology. Let me point to a few examples
Nuclear Energy
Computers and their original software and semiconductor development (Unix, Mac, Windows, Intel)
Rockets and space shuttle
Commercial rocket systems
Genetics and current Crispr and gene technology
Quantum Computing
AI and large language software
Internet and Social Network systems

I have no idea why this is the case (do not think anybody does). But if US actually stagnates, as many believe here, I foresee a overall stagnation of the world in many fields of knowledge....which will not be a good thing at all.
Thoughts?

I think the world overall would keep going without the U.S., which has been stagnating and lagging behind for quite some time in many key areas. Much of the U.S. advantage in the past century has been due to other powerful nations either self-destructing or destroying each other, while the U.S. has had a two-ocean buffer to protect us. This also provided a haven to many scientists from other countries looking to escape the ravages of war and tyranny.

Some of it may also be rooted in the idea that scientific knowledge should be shared freely, in an atmosphere of free expression and the right to publish. I get the sense that, in past eras, there seemed to be more of a sense of wanting to keep new technologies and discoveries secret, in order to not lose one's advantage over one's competitors or other nations.