Techno-Barbarians

[@BlizzardofKnives]

Something worth remembering about 40ks' Age of Strife this that the AI rebellion favoured worlds who'd rejected advanced tech, and instilled fear of it among its survivours. It's not that humanity can't innovate in 40k, it's that the overwhelming majority won't, and punish those that do.

[@shanemyers79]

Sorta like if Iphones and Androids started strangling us all simultaneously, only the Amish and those uncontacted tribes would be left, and they sure as hell wouldnt be down with technology anytime soon thereafter.

[@Codoxnz]

It's not even that they wont -- that is a huge misconception of the Mechanicus and 40,000, they really, really want to progress back to where they were as a species -- it's that they can't trust a lot of their working theories or technological schematics that aren't currently in use anymore. This is why they punish some rogue Magi, because some of them are doing more harm than good to the current state of the Imperium's understanding of technology. This includes a lot of golden-age tech that was deposited in vaults. During the Heresy demonic-computer viruses ravaged a lot of man's known technology and restricted technology, even the technologies hidden in vaults; you could make that nifty new grav-jet-bike, but it equally could be a grav-jet-bike-Chaos-transformer that's been waiting 10,000 years to be made simply so it can wipe you and your Mechanics cult-enclave out, losing even more viable technology in the process. Welcome to the future, where even the process of innovation can be corrupted or may wants to murder you. It's not that they don't want to innovate, they do, it's just some of the directions they wish to innovate in are either dangerous, corrupted or have a lost understanding proving it equally dangerous or sometimes all three. Once they can prove the technology isn't genocidal towards the Imperium, they will use it. The problem is they have a real problematic opportunity cost: using this technology could give us the upper hand, or it could stack another card against us - and they have had 10,000 years of the latter.

[@OkurkaBinLadin]

" the overwhelming majority won't, and punish those that do." - Sounds oddly familiar.

[@jonc8074]

do you want Skynet? because that's how you get Skynet

[@isaacstovell867]

@@jonc8074 no, that is. careful now (don't feed the wryms)

[@nonyabeeznuss304]

I can't remember the name of it, but I remember reading what I thought was a fantasy story, but turned out to be a techno barbarian one. It starts out with the main charecter finding a "magic staff" that they have to "summon" an "ancient spirit" so they can learn the "spells" to use it. Except as the story goes on you realise its a directed energy weapon, the spirit is a deactivated AI, the rituals are actually a reboot procedure, and the "spells" he learns is actually computer coding to repair the damaged weapon. It was very cleverly written, and I legitimatley only started picking up halfway through that it wasn't a magic/fantasy story, but rather one about reactivating long forgotten tech.

[@TheJarric]

stargate atlantis has episode like that too

[@idonhaveanyideawhattocallm1472]

It's been two years you remember yet?

[@centercannothold]

@@idonhaveanyideawhattocallm1472 "The Broken Sword" by Poul Anderson

[@mac_attack_zach]

how about now, do you remember now?

[@MacauleyAnderson-ib5se]

The Broken Empire trilogy by Mark Lawrence is very similar if anyone is interested. Solid read.

[@nicholascarter9158]

When we look at historical situations such as the Bronze Age Collapse and Roman Britain, what normally seems to cause techno barbarism is that either the demand for a technology is removed (because of population loss) or a crucial ingredient for a technology that had to be imported is lost, and does not return for twenty or thirty years. This leads to a loss in practical experience for how the technology is integrated into infrastructure, and makes restoring the technology prohibitively expensive.

[@ssshhhjjj192]

Exactly brother, I agree with you 100%. What it truly boils down to is money. If it costs way too much(prohibitively expensive-as you said) and people can meet their needs a cheaper way, then they will.

[@RinoaL]

Final Fantasy XIV would be an example of a techno-barbarian civilization written well. ancient technology survives but most people live lives distant from it, cellphones that are 5,000 years old get dug up and people collect them, but they arent seen as anything of actual practical value. however you could also argue FFXIV's world just has better technology since it has magic, and why would you use technology when you can just use aether and crystals.

[@gamerplays5131]

Because scientists could probably find something more ridiculous to do when mixing both basic science and aether science

[@cevk]

Because magic is literally bad for the world.

[@tuttifruity1130]

THE WHOLE COMOS IS RUINED BECAUSE OF PIESOELECTRIC FRACTAL ATTACKING MACHINES INCLUDING ALL CRYSTALS, STONE AND THE MINERAL KINGDOMS AND ALL OF THE AETHERIC REALMS AND CHASMS OF CREATION AND CO-CREATION

[@barahng]

@@gamerplays5131 Like Magitek?

[@gamerplays5131]

@@barahng Pretty much, but humans, although intelligent are not that wise, so you can see the many, MANY horrific after effects of using both science and magic as magic is not exactly very stable nor well understood

[@vaastro8709]

I used to think that the fusion will be the most important new technology we're about to get but now I see that it is actually nano-duct-tape

[@flamingtp4947]

I prefer the term Techno Viking, thank you very much! Praise the Omnissiah.

[@Jack__Reaper]

*points and stares with the fury of a thousand warriors as techno music plays in Berlin*

[@waferty6027]

The emperor protect !

[@tubate20092]

The Emperor protects!

[@Jrez]

*Sues for control of own meme*

[@flamingtp4947]

@Jing Bot kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIWlXoevlNBsrLs

[@theyoda55]

I remember someone at some point (I think Oculus Imperia) that suggested the term "techno barbarian" in 40k referred more to the way these groups acted despite having access to good technology and that they were purposely called "barbarians" as to remind future readers of the horrendous cultures these people had before the Emperor came and unified Terra.

[@nightside100]

I always saw that as a bit of imperial propaganda. A lot of the side fluff makes me think some cultures where about as violent or regressive as the emperors was. They just didn't want to be subordinate to him.

[@TheJarric]

and it even might be mostly empires propaganda

[@nickkorkodylas5005]

Consider your words carefully, Isaac. I have the Black Templars on astronomican speeddial...

[@brainwashedbyevidence948]

We shall purge the heretics in holy fire!!!

[@iron_vicuna6784]

For those interested in the idea of old tech being revered and ancient blue prints being passed down generation to generation, I'd recommend the book, "A Cantacle for Leibowitz"

[@rowandewitt8567]

One of my favorites! I was about to recommend it, but you beat me to it!

[@jaymevosburgh3660]

I will certainly get on reading that. Thanks.

[@kosmologic6007]

The best post apo book ever🔥

[@isaacstovell867]

is that a Cohen brothers reference?

[@davidweir8312]

Wow! That's a blast from the past. Fantastic read.

[@austinstueland2933]

So... We just wait for the Emperor of Man to deal with these savages?

[@johndanes2294]

Wait here comes the Thunder warriors

[@hanskloss7726]

Emperor protects

[@kelvinth117]

I am already here but sssshhhhh i am still hidding and waiting. ;)

[@lashedandscorned]

green iz best

[@BI-11y_TheStormTrooper]

The emperor is here but I'm lazy , I will have the space police get right on it tho .

[@jrlinsin]

"While duct tape is said to fix anything, it sure doesn't apply to nanoscopic technologies." Not with that attitude, it doesn't.

[@rochr4]

Laughed hard, show us.

[@corwinweber693]

Hold my nanobeer.

[@helygg8892]

That's why you shrink it first you big dummy

[@isaacstovell867]

ork mentality in a nutshell. shit really hits the fan when AI gets warpy

[@DaFinkingOrk]

Super shrink-wrap

[@blacklegionxvi8680]

Came across this link on Reddit, I was captivated from start to finish. You sir are a genius everything is so well thought out and accompanied by facts theories and examples. Everything is built up around solid facts and thesis. It is also brilliantly written and worded so that it stays interesting and never sounds too long winded or buried in an avalanche of over exposure or technicalities. You are s genius and have a gift for this sort of thing. I am subscribed and unfortunately can only like this once but man is this excellent content. Thanks for your effort and time in creating these. This is utterly brilliant.

[@SpadeRZA]

We all know that the God-Emperor of Mankind defeated and conquered the Techno-Barbarian Tribes way before M31

[@josephgaskill4209]

SpadeRZA Donald trump?

[@uncommonsense_3602]

Joseph Gaskill Hes making a joke about the game War Hammer 40K.

[@1110-s1t]

@@uncommonsense_3602 I'm so glad when people who don't praise the Omnissiah associate his likeness with Mr Trump.

[@uncommonsense_3602]

1110 1011000 You'd think on a channel about science and futurism that references 40K many times people would start to understand some references. Heretics will be heretics. The Emperor Protects.....

[@1110-s1t]

@@uncommonsense_3602 The Emperor Protects!

[@sentenal01]

*THUNDER WARRIORS INTENSIFIES*

[@fanaticaltechpriest1002]

Hail the Emperor-Omnissiah!

[@mikeloeven]

INSERT CUSTODES HIDING BEHIND A TREE RUBBING HANDS TOGETHER MANIACALLY

[@Gam3B0y23r0]

Arik Taranis FTW! also. Death to the false Emperor!!!

[@sinisterminister6478]

@@Gam3B0y23r0 HERESY!!!Summon the Inquisition!

[@reeticasawhney6]

@@fanaticaltechpriest1002 actually that being up a very interesting point in warhammer 40k about religion. The mechanics could have stopped earth basically any time before the great crusade began in ernest. At any time mars could have rained down titans and tech priests and wiped the fledgling imperium of the map. Only because of the religious aspects as well as a lot of diplomacy by the emperor did the imperium survive with the mechanicus. It is an interesting idea of how religious commonalities as well as diplomacy help to bring a civilization out of a dark age or breakdown of central authority Edit typo

[@ZanzatheDivine]

"Bad at obvious innovations, like realising they could hook up their still-functional fusion reactor to run water purification" James in Fallout 3: Am I a joke to you?

[@LucasDimoveo]

Just a historical comment: if you want to look at a full-on civilizational collapse, the best example is the Bronze Age Collapse. Writing pretty much disappeared in Greece during that time, and most cities in Anatolia were razed to the ground or abandoned.

[@isaacarthurSFIA]

To be fair it hadn't made much of an appearance yet either, there weren't big libraries or schools. Technology/methods in widespread use would be more resilient to loss

[@JaegerWML]

The video "1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed (Eric Cline, PhD)" was great on that subject.

[@luciferangelica]

@@isaacarthurSFIA according to the footnotes in robert grave's greek myths, the inhabitants of the greek peninsula prior to the hellenes may have had a writing system using twigs of different trees

[@allhumansarejusthuman.5776]

I think looking at the plausibility of under-utilizing tech long term is a more promising prospect. The Native Americans are a good source of that, being that they seemed to have discovered smelting iron in central america but difficulty getting suitable ores and fuel together (no pack animals remember) stunted the growth of refining tech further limiting them, even though the know how of blacksmithing was wide spread before the Europeans arrived. It's very applicable to what could happen to our civilization with rare earth materials, if space mining becomes invalid, and large empires like we have break down

[@rockomax2732]

Don donny very true!

[@TheExoplanetsChannel]

Excellent video. 28:25 Looking forward to our collaboration release!

[@saltymcginger2027]

@@hazzah5572 no. Cuz it's the channel he's actually going to collab with.

[@JoyeuseCurtana]

"And then I thought about how people would behave without internet access for a few days." I will carve memes from their bones!

[@Ribbitkill]

Memes for the Meme God

[@Deridus]

Lols for the Throne!

[@maxthepaladin2147]

Free will is a myth! Religion is a joke! We're all controlled by something greater: memes

[@JohnTrustworthy]

>Subscription based tech-prints This reminds me of Starsector where technology is limited literally due to DRM.

[@ahumanbeingamnayplaceholde1746]

Lmao

[@jasonbelstone3427]

"Culturally unique items..." You mean "Space anime".

[@ahumanbeingamnayplaceholde1746]

"Hey look i have this lewd polymer effigy" "PRAISE THE CHIEF"

[@KnighteMinistriez]

Here's an interesting question: could some of these mega-structures that we talk about in scifi and other future tech theories plausibly cause artificial eclipses after being built? Orbital mechanics and depending on how big the mega-structures are, I would think this is a possibility. Just an idea.

[@alteredbeast7145]

Everybody techno barbarian till the emperor rocks up with 10000 thunder warriors

[@theguyonthecouch6109]

I stumbled on your channel about three months ago. Definitely one of my favorites. You just used the term "nano duct tape". As far as science and futurism goes you have got to be one of the very best. Educational AND entertaining. Glad I found this. Please never stop.

[@ninekindzo3569]

I just want to point out that the W.W.E. has every single bit of their wrestling footage ever recorded in a massive bunker inside a mountain that can withstand everything except a direct nuclear strike... And I feel like this greatly increases the likelihood of techno barbarians popping up in a post-apocalyptic future.✌

[@SECONDQUEST]

The best part about WH40k is taking everything is canon, it's just not all true. People in universe just don't know their history, and certain people disagreed

[@evensgrey]

Yes, and the ongoing politics is WONDERFUL. There's a faction of the Ecclesiarchy that diligently tries to preserve ancient records, locate misplaced records (in a setting where you can literally have a paperwork error that causes the rest of the Empire to simply forget that an entire sector exists, and nobody notices for centuries), and just generally work out what really happened in the past...and then there's a different faction of the same organization dedicated to making sure nobody ever does that because it might destabilize the Empire. (And it would, the Empire is held together by blatant lies and operates in direct opposition to the intentions of the Emperor. And it does this because it's the only way the people running things can hold it together at all, and if they fail then Humanity dies out in the best possible outcome, and becomes food for the Chaos Gods for all eternity in the worst outcome.)

[@bobriggins7363]

@@evensgrey pretty sure its the "great devourer " tyranids being the worst possible outcome,

[@cookieninja2154]

@@bobriggins7363 It is conjectured that the norn queen stores the genetic code of all things that the fleet devours. In some sense the tyranids are just generously granting all life immortality.... And NO I'm not part of a genestealer cult.

[@evensgrey]

@@bobriggins7363 No, the Tyranids will JUST kill you. With the Chaos Gods, that's just the START of what they'll put you through.

[@evensgrey]

@@cookieninja2154 IT is proposed that the Tyranids are yet another Old One construct, intended to wipe out existing life but store the templates of the destroyed life for later recreation when the galaxy has been rendered safe for mortal life again. The Old Ones might not be absolute evil, but they DEFINITELY were real bastards.

[@SuVidaAnimates]

Well, we got to see how savage people can be when they run out of toilet paper.

[@cboy-ou2hr]

Next we will see how crazy they go over soap

[@GhostOfKiev2023]

"can you spare a square?"

[@eddietowers5595]

One who has all of the plungers controls the world.

[@kana22693]

There are places in the world right now that don't have electricity, running water, plumbing...etc but they have AK47s and military grade vehicles, I'm guessing that's where the inspiration for movies such as Mad Max came from back in the late '70s.

[@FlakeTillman]

Yo mama so dumb that when she heard “S*** Hit The Fan” she bought all the toilet paper at Dollar General.

[@ilkoderez601]

This is one of the coolest channels on KZbin. I'm mad at myself for not subscribing earlier but now I have a huge backlog of great entertainment. Thanks for the great channel! You rock!

[@adoredpariah]

Surely some Luddite references in there too. Something about using the relics of an old or dying world/culture, to continue or ensure its destruction, for what you perceive as your own survival, is reminiscent of the ideals there.

[@matthewc9934]

Hey isaac, just dyi, i find your voice very relaxing. I fell asleep to your video last night. Gj and keep up the great work.

[@juma1130]

Ak-47: im extremely resilient Browning: thats cute

[@inzo313]

“Techno Barbarians” is such an cool concept.

[@maxkronader5225]

I am continuously impressed by the consistent high quality of SFIA videos. Well done, as usual.

[@calamusgladiofortior2814]

“Conan, what is best in life?” *”To prepare your snack, sip your drink, and hear the wise words of Issac Arthur!”*

[@notlessgrossman163]

I swear the first time I read this, I was thinking of Arthur Conan Doyle.

[@JM-mh1pp]

But...but..the screams of your enemies and seeing them driven before you is cool too!

[@calamusgladiofortior2814]

Jakub Mike I had to tell the lamenting women to quiet down a bit, I couldn’t hear the video ;)

[@brenton2561]

CROMMMM!!

[@iona2225]

*That is good!*

[@Turnil321]

The part about genetic engineering were Isaac talked about genes (8:30) made me think of the orks in 40K. They also have genes that activate when the conditions are right.

[@MrPapamaci88]

Techno Barbarians: 0:16 shows an average Russian Hardbass fan.

[@LoboalphaMASTER]

They are techno barbarians who use the tech, and booze, scavenged from the ruins of the fallen Soviet Empire.

[@justinandrew7310]

@@LoboalphaMASTER Sounds like a great comic book

[@Crushonius]

@@LoboalphaMASTER that would be true if they didnt have some of the best scientists on the planet

[@minhducnguyen674]

@@Crushonius Not after the fall of the Soviet Union. You can find and train genius anywhere. But without sufficient funding they won't innovating anything. Besides, education and surplus of labor are the most affected after a collapse. People won't have time to do science if they are in constant danger of starving. Any innovation will be prioritized on survival

[@fraserhenderson7839]

"Against a Dark Background" Iain M Banks. Sharrow, the protagonist is a great example as are most of the cast.

[@tariqahmad1371]

I was looking forward to this. I first found out about it in “if the emperor had a text to speech device “. Soo funny

[@SamTheCrazyOne]

Same here o.0

[@Mr.Beauregarde]

KITTEN!

[@tariqahmad1371]

@Abhi Prakash its a series done by Bruva Alphabusa on KZbin

[@TiredRoman]

@@abhiprakash74999 The correct warhammer 40k lore

[@franciscoduarteauthor]

@@TiredRoman indeed!

[@NBC_NCO]

A while back, had seen a video of a focilized shoe print that had amazing detail in the stitches of the sole. I forgot how old they estimated it to be. So with that in mind...do you think its possible that we were once a advanced civilization that saw a doomsday event ?

[@ASchell90]

Yes. Look into the 13000 year catastrophic cycle. Do some digging into ancient archaeology and you will end up with some mind rending questions.

[@Tounushi]

In 40k, there's only very loose canon, as much of it is written as if the author is within the setting itself. Mechanicus had made raids to Earth, in order to recover technology. And there were numerous other factions in the Sol system, including some xenos outposts. They'd very likely be culprits in extracting Earth's water reserves. That'd actually be quite likely: outer system assets are far apart, most icy moons are likely in the hands of unified factions and Earth is divided by dozens of factions. Earth is therefore the weakest-defended rich water source.

[@richarddeese1991]

Thanks. @2:10 (roughly) - This is an idea that fascinates me - the concept that actual technology could be maintained, but that the scientific understanding behind it would be lost, and people would use something like mysticism or religion in which to couch their use of the knowledge, machines, etc. It makes me wonder about the possibility that even a current theory like say, Relativity, or Quantum Mechanics [even though the latter isn't really a theory - but that's another topic!] could be expressed in mystic or religious 'mumbo-jumbo.' And *_that_* makes me keenly aware of the possibility that our current scientific ideas *_are_***, in some sense, just that: mumbo-jumbo. That's for two main reasons. First, much of our understanding now is based on, or constructed out of, our past understanding - with all our past ***_misunderstandings_* literally encoded into it. For an example, just look at how Platonism has colored (and I would say, largely wrecked!) our thoughts about math, philosophy, & even science. And second, *_LANGUAGE._* Language has limits, and it decides what our understanding, thoughts, & even feelings about something can be. I truly wonder how a scientific theory would "operate" if it were worded differently. We often stumble over ideas because of how we think of them & talk about them in a particular language. There are no words for some things. Besides, most people have zero understanding of how most of the things they use really work. How many of us could build a computer, or an airplane, or a TV, or even a toaster?!? Here's a great quote (from my favorite person to quote: Frank Herbert) *_"Ancient metal workers had no need to understand the molecular and submolecular complexities of their steel, bronze, copper, gold, and tin. They invented mystical powers to describe the unknown while they continued to operate their forges and wield their hammers."_* [from "Heretics of Dune", 1984 (the 5th book in his original Dune series)] We LOVE to think that we understand things. Scientists are particularly vulnerable to this. Don't get me wrong - I believe in the scientific method as something that has indeed brought us the most accurate and useful body of knowledge humankind has ever achieved. But there are real dangers here, too. Look at how much trouble Quantum Gravity is creating! The two most mind-bendingly accurate, successful, and, well, mind-bending theories of all time - and they refuse to behave when we try to put them in the same room! I'm reminded of the Dire Straights lyric from the song "Industrial Disease": "Two men say they're Jesus / One of 'em must be wrong." Consensus is that Relativity is at least partly wrong, but *_not_* Quantum Mechanics. We'll see how that goes! tavi.

[@timogul]

The concern I have with natural resources in a post-apocalypse would be in ease of use. Iron Age tribes had access to materials at ground level. Industrial Age societies developed ways of harvesting materials from much deeper, and of refining certain ores into useful stuff, but these processes requires a step by step process, using easy gifts to acquire more challenging advancements. I feel like there would be a case in which a society could use up all the "convenient" resources chasing advancement, turning them all into things that are harder to break down for parts, and then the culture is destroyed somehow, making it impossible for them to use the advanced tools and processes that allowed them to access the more challenging resources. Since society would have to rebuild itself from scratch now, they might not have those easy resources available with which to take the first steps towards recovery. I thought of these things while reading Ringworld many years ago, an artificial structure with no "natural" resources, built using materials that are impossible to manipulate without sci-magic tier technologies.

[@flameyoshi07]

Wasn't the halo rings inspired or copied from that book

[@TheJarric]

it might be scale thing too rome wasent more advansed that reneisanse civs but it was richer so it coud do stuff that was only rivalled by industrial revolution

[@pringles_mcgee]

I'd love to see a series on engineering plants to grow inorganic components. that'd be awesome fuel for post-apoc story ideas!

[@margithammer8835]

I keep thinking of the Cuban Frankenstein cars with parts from multiple makes and models.

[@allhumansarejusthuman.5776]

Me too!

[@umbraelegios4130]

Military axiom "Amateurs study tactics, Professionals study logistics ".

[@dubuyajay9964]

But where does one study logistics?

[@TactileCoder]

@@dubuyajay9964 Wal Mart

[@damenwhelan3236]

@@dubuyajay9964 Revision of field work and critical thinking.

[@damenwhelan3236]

@@dubuyajay9964 Napoleonic wars is a good place to learn.

[@AB-ci7cz]

Probably said by some academy nerd. Professionals know that the job of logistics is to issue you with shit while selling off the goods and making tidy profit.

[@thekingofthisworld2154]

I keep thinking about The Lord Humungous and his Dogs of War.

[@Sigmar_Heldenhammer]

JUST WALK AWAY, LEAVE US THE OIL, THE PUMP, THE GASOLINE, AND YOU CAN LEAVE WITH YOUR LIVES.

[@expertadvice4u]

Thundar the barbarian my favorite show mixing technology and mysticism

[@dankuchar6821]

Thunder Cats anyone? Never actually did figure out what was going on with that show. Was it the future? Or just some weird place?

[@brenton2561]

Working on my wifes jeep and my ford, I realised I am a techno barbarian. The lines between mechanics and spirituality are blurred! Praise jeepsus! Praise the ford!

[@casuallatecomer7597]

Sounding like a good candidate for the Adeptus Mechanicus there mate.

[@ancientfalmer4341]

Don't forget the Holy Davidson

[@finnaustin4002]

Praise the angel combustion

[@HashFace253]

Ahora Mazda?

[@nowhereman6019]

*[PREPARE FOR AUGMENTATION IN THE NAME OF THE OMNISSIAH]*

[@rojaws1183]

I say we elect Arthur for chieftain of our post apocalypse tribe. We can call it the 'Tribe of the Snack and Drink' or the 'Paperclip Hunters'.

[@coquio]

So you're telling me we're basically there.

[@KF1]

Fine line between specialization and general ignorance, eh. The difference is quality and availability of information. The barbarian would read the textbook if he could. We can, but don't because we don't have to.

[@thetruth45678]

I am sooooo looking forward to your future collaboration with Nick. I'm subbed to both of your channels, and have been for quite some time. This is a splendid match.

[@douglasnelson4592]

Which Nick?

[@thetruth45678]

@@douglasnelson4592 ParallaxNick, of course!

[@dcanaday]

Love how he used the M60 machine gun for an example of a touchy weapon. That thing was always malfunctioning.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Isn't the SEAL and Marine Corps variant more reliable? A3 I think?

[@sffretheim8547]

Your description of this topic brought to mind a story I first read maybe 30 - 35 years ago, "A Canticle for Leibowitz". I do not recall hearing you refer to it or to Walter Miller in any of your videos, so, if you haven't read it, you might enjoy it.

[@adamjensen5147]

Oh gee. What kind of idiot would intentionally make their civilization and supply chains immensely fragile for the sake of marginally more efficiency? Looks at 2020: O-oh.

[@xaphaniariel2797]

It's not even efficient, we dump a tons of product through the distribution chain. Just grossly profitable, which isn't the same thing

[@dansmith1661]

Efficiency? It has always been about money. Though when it gets to the point where endemic unemployment, low wages, and protests happen with the populace that the government decides to act on it, we are conditioned to call it tyrannical, Fascist, dictatorship, bad German man. Harsh times result in harsh actions.

[@larrybeckham6652]

May gawd had mercy on our souls.

[@efxnews4776]

We are about to become techno barabarians ourselfs... Just look at South China sea tensions.

[@DeSpaceFairy]

The mohawk and leather don't fit me anymore, I prefer to not techno barbarian.

[@Green_Phos]

Isaac Arthur, one of my personal favorite sci-fi commentators, talking about 40K, my personal favorite dystopian sci-fi for 20+ years. The Emperor is pleased with this video.

[@avaevathornton9851]

This isn't a fantasy trope, or even particularly unusual, just look at Syria/Yemen/Libya etc today.

[@endsinvention1390]

Very good point

[@hanskloss7726]

As soon as all building sites are equipped with all 20k gender toilets and all an engineer knows is that math is a white man's supremacy all these scenarios will become irrelevant because we will live in oppression free society and such concerns as the understanding and availability of tech will just cease to be

[@hanskloss7726]

@Sheldon Robertson Whether they will be better colonial masters we shall see. I think the whites cannot be held responsible as a group as clearly some where better than others in maintaining their colonial assets and some where the assets themselves which is why talking about white privilege is such a BS but that is completely other story. he particular kind of social dementia that the West goes through will go away at some point too. We shall see then in what state the world is. Let us just hope that dark ages that seem to be inevitable at least when it comes to human rights will not last long.

[@khhnator]

@Sheldon Robertson hi there, you seem to be here in this pretty niche video, so i assume you just not someone who just panics at anything they read in social media... so explain this thing for me, why you think that a handful of Californian activists which are relatively annoying but mostly fight irrelevant things like clothing of female characters in videogames are the fall of west civilization, or whatever?

[@khhnator]

@Sheldon Robertson you just said lots of people are with them, you dint actually answered my question edit: i'm not trying to entrap you into something so i can win some argument, I'm genuinely curious and trying to understand

[@grandsome1]

24:16 That suspiciously sounds like Battletech/Mech Warrior.

[@justarandomname420]

FOR THE EMPEROR!

[@koanbonwa]

Seeing Gene Wolfe's series highlighted at that point in the narration brought a smile to my face, another good series on that point would be Jack L. Chalker's Soul Rider series. Both are greatly under read and well worth tracking down!

[@gravytrain8041]

I love Warhammer 40k. But, my favorite techno barbarian concept was Thundar the Barbarian. Early 80s, Saturday morning cartoon. I've also thought a good Sci Fi troupe would be Earth, in such a state. With others who'd escaped in ship's. And who'd built a society in space, around the ruined, Mad Max earth. Maybe workingon, or planning to rebuild earth later.

[@dubuyajay9964]

What did you think of Dino Riders? Space Travelers trapped on Prehistoric Earth with their enemies and forced to get by on what survived their crash and the local flora and fauna.

[@gravytrain8041]

@@dubuyajay9964 I'll have to look that one up. Don't think I saw that one.

[@dubuyajay9964]

@@gravytrain8041 It was a treat. I hate the show bombed since it predated JP by approx 5 yrs.

[@gravytrain8041]

@@dubuyajay9964 I just looked it up. I remember seeing the toys. It looks pretty cool. Kinda like G.I. Joe meets Tera Nova. I'm going to have to seek out some episodes. Thanks

[@dubuyajay9964]

@@gravytrain8041 YW.

[@HereticActual]

First of all I want to thank you for the mind expanding content you have put out for the last few years. I love your content, and often bring it up in common conversation if presented with an opportunity. Many people are impressed by what humanity could accomplish with current knowledge. I'm glad you addressed this popular subject from the poll (I voted for something else), but please don't ignore those other options. They all sounded very interesting. I look forward to hearing the other lectures on those subjects as well.

[@allhumansarejusthuman.5776]

Ya know at 18:03, I think it's important to take note and mention North American History in the discussion of techno barbarians and mentioning Iron and Aluminum is a good reminder to me. Most important because the Natives had a similar relationship with Iron as modern man has with alloying elements and lithium, despite lithium being very common. The Iron Age happened in the Americas long before Columbus arrived, but scarcity of good easy to process surface ores *near* fuel sources resigned Iron to a little used element, with blacksmithing being mixed in with all metalworking and rarely practiced. most iron was refined in central America with no pack animals to move it far and wide. But surface sources that where still metallic where used across the board. Like meteorites found on the ground, a common source for our modern alloying elements. The presence of woods that where stronger then iron per pound and almost a durable as iron probably eased the urgency of spreading ironworking. Much like the durability of plain steels and strength of (possibly genetically engineered) woods would likely be an ease of pressure against techno-barbarians advancing. (Please note, calling the Native Americans "stone age" is something Columbus and the records of the first expeditions to the Americas would disagree with. Stone tools became more prevalent and Iron less as plagues spread through the natives population but at first it was a common sight to see iron and stone tools used in agriculture and forestry, according to the Spanish records) That is to say, perhaps we'd reach a point where we are not truly techno-barbarians but just found enough alternatives that are easy enough to teach generation by generation as efforts to achieve more become to difficult, perhaps by unpredictability of AI, or pure scarcity if launching off a planet becomes unviable due to debris

[@jcs337111]

Hey Isaac Arthur, I have been watching your channel for a few months now and I really enjoy it! Keep up the amazing videos!! On that note, now that the pentagon has released videos of the US militaries encounters with "UAP" or Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon can you please do a video of what that would mean if it was extraterrestrial life piloting or commanding the vehicles in the videos? I think it would be very interesting and relevant to what we may be experiencing now on earth. Thank you so much :)

[@RyanRyzzo]

Listened to Hari Seldon. Instructions unclear. 40k years later...

[@xaphaniariel2797]

Alas, psychohistory is only effective when no instructions are given

[@ellenmcgowen]

The Second Foundation fell asleep on the job? Too bad Seldon didn't establish a Third Foundation to keep an eye on the Second.

[@rochr4]

I found foundation very weak, probably I was spoiled by newer concepts that based on it.. Asimov robots series on the contrary was effin genius, would read again and probably will, fantastic!

[@SultanOfAwesomeness]

RyanRyzzo oh shidd, love your artwork man.

[@hanskloss7726]

@@rochr4 Is written like most of hard sci-fi of the time with a twist that Assimove was writing a history book like story so no story. I recall reading whatever I could back then when I was young and stupid. There is another story which seems to be forgotten a "A Canticle for Liebovitz" - I think this describes the misunderstanding of the old by the the new much better than Assiomov did. I also question this "lots of still functioning tech" lying around story.Surely some will stay and we find ways to work around problems of unpaid license fee for some other. But try to make a modern car work after it run out of addblue - the car is still there, could drive but its brain tells you that it cannot because our current masters decided so (why is another question). So you can scavenge that to supply some parts for another less fragile one but how many you can find? I guess it all depends. Some Roman Villas survived the fall of Rome by a few hundred years. Cities in Britain were less durable but did survive too for quite some time. The industrial size grain mills in what is now southern France were still usable but were just not needed so got forgotten this way. If Carrington Event stroke say 1950 lots of thing could have happened but unless a nuclear war broke out by mistake there would be a way to keep wheels rolling. The population size now is much less sustainable with lesser means and how do you produce fast enough money for exchange. in 1950 you would still have some cash around for that purpose. I had hope before that our masters i.e. the states would have some contingency plans. But looking at the corona mess I think the only one that have anything resembling a plan are preppers. So for civilization sake - good that we have them.

[@Fiddler455]

ParallaxNick has a great channel. Well worth the watch. Another great episode, so many people are very down currently, the relentless optimism for the future, tempered with realism is so wonderful to look forward to week after week. Thank you Isaac Arthur and the production crew that make this possible.

[@INWMI]

YALL NEED THE EMPEROR

[@Sigmar_Heldenhammer]

Which emperor? Me or the dead guy?

[@astolbro7183]

Worship your corpse god heathen I have gods of my own

[@INWMI]

Traitors, mutants heretics, all must be purged

[@bryancouillard2016]

One topic I'd love to see discussed (some one link me if he already has) is Kessler Syndrome (cascade space debris), both current dangers, solutions, and its potential devastation extrapolated onto a K2 civ environment.

[@themischeifguide]

The M2 machine gun that was used on my crew's humvee in Iraq was made in 1950's, far older than anybody in the entire squadron.

[@hbbpnm8586]

Shame that you are still here if its that good

[@slyseal2091]

@Riki 9653 what kind of keyboard switches y and u

[@lapinrigolo]

Manufactured or designed?

[@antaresmc4407]

@Riki 9653 really? Im not gonna get into if its or not gender biased (dont know not care), but two unrelated pieces of information can have similarities in how they are coded and not be more related because that. Its like saying pi is illuminati because its integer part is 3 that is the number of sides of a triangle (ITSACONSPIRACY.jpeg)

[@themischeifguide]

@@lapinrigolo manufactured

[@cascadianrangers728]

You don't use product to keep up a mohawk; you backcomb, or basically tangle, it with some sort of comb to get height; no perfume smells or gel in your sweat, stinging your eyes

[@Flexistentialist]

*MY **_OILED_** ABS QUIVER IN EXCITEMEEEENT.*

[@marsar1775]

STOP SMEARING OIL AROUND THE PALACE

[@Flexistentialist]

NO PROMISES ARE MADE!

[@JM-mh1pp]

@@marsar1775 hehehe...this is not oil...

[@The-Samuil]

@Blake Pinette will you enter my temple?

[@Wayoutthere]

@@The-Samuil Sex is magic......and magic is HERESY *BLAM!*

[@HestonMTL]

@Isaac Arthur You should check out the novel "A Canticle for Leibowitz." It's terrific, and satisfyingly explores almost all the ideas mentioned in this episode.

[@samuelmcdonough3605]

Conan the blabarion just doesn’t have the same ring.

[@D1SCORDANT3]

What is best in life? To blah blah blah and blah blah blah. Also, Peace through Power!

[@danhat606]

BAR-BARH BARH

[@hafor2846]

In Master of Mankind by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, the Emperor explicitely orders the execution of a noble/warlord who was responsible for draining the last ocean and trading the water for her own gain. So while the lore probably still imagines major disasters that depleted most of the water or at least started it, humans were most definitely involved in shipping it off Earth and depleting it in that manner.

[@KarlRosner]

I love the 40k setting but some of the concepts that tie the setting together are kind of silly. Things like agriculture worlds supplying hive worlds, in "reality" they should be food independent and not rely on imports. The Imperium doesn't seem to have a lack of power generators, they make stuff on stupidly huge scales even with their long forgotten technology so hive worlds wouldn't have a problem recycling bio-mass into food. The scale of 40k is all wrong too with battles for planets being in the hundred of thousands instead of tens of millions, crews for ships being far to small giving the size and complexity of the ships, ect. Great setting though, where else can I get a guy chainsawing an ork to death?

[@comradeofthebalance3147]

Karl Rosner I dispute. Assuming you are talking about the imperium, they have an inefficient bureaucracy, thus production is constantly undersupplied. Some worlds also are more suited to be agricultural worlds due to their planet’s geography. Some hive worlds are overbuilt, and this can be attributed to the inefficiency and stagnancy in thinking within the imperium. The Imperium is fucked up and the only thing that is keeping it together is religion ironically, oppression and propaganda. And also constant war. Then there is scale. Yeah sure lots of the battles are rather lacking but most battles do take place with hundreds of millions of participants while the imperial navy has military ships calling from 3 km in length to 16km like a battleship.

[@cstgraphpads2091]

People tend to forget that 40K is supposed to be at least a little over the top.

[@Badjujubee]

Besides for game purposes, I always thought the limited numbers was also due to concerns about Chaos/warp bleed through. The more sentients in a highly emotional state you have in one place, the more infuence the infernal powers are able to exert

[@gloth]

i was under the impression that all hive worlds recycle their water and even their dead into food. Its just that you need agricultural worlds since recycling can never produce 100% of the recycled material and to also provide food for the billions involved in military campaigns. Plus its not meant to be an accurate scientific depiction, it should be over the top unrealistic :D

[@Maravone]

40k? Silly? you dont say! (Thats what makes 40k genius: its all so silly and outrageous it becomes incredibly awesome)

[@Gam3B0y23r0]

Love that you are also a 40K fan )). IMO setting will get more and more popular. Even if you don't play tabletop, lore books qual Marvel and DC universes with its scale, and is as much enjoyable!

[@klausgartenstiel4586]

"... you're not using a small enough amount of duct tape."

[@PhoenixNL72-DEGA-]

Nah, you can never use to much ductape! :P

[@wackyruss]

This video’s title “Techno-Barbarians” immediately reminded me of The Fremen from the DUNE series. These nomadic, knife wielding, water hoarders lived on desert planet Arrakis in cave dwellings called Sietches and were always at odds with the feudal rulers House Harkonnen set over 20,000 years in the future. They had their own tech in the form of StillSuits that recycle their urine into drinking water since water was scarce on Dune. They helped Paul Atreides overthrow the evil House Harkonnen. They also ride the giant Sandworm known as Shai-Hulud. They followed an ancient religion that merged Buddhism and Islam called Zensunni.

[@Cartoonicus]

You’ve got me excited for nano-duct tape, now.

[@robinehrenhofer8202]

Another great Video, I have to thank you, your content keeps me entertained in these boring times.

[@lucianoyan6551]

What I like about such a setting (Warhammer 40k) is the writers thinking of something, then making an edgy grimdark space version of it. I would say it's kinda like 90s Africa in the world of sci-fi. (if that's okay to say...)

[@Merennulli]

The post-Roman "dark age" was real, just regional rather than global. Infrastructure and trade weren't maintained, populations (particularly Rome itself) moved from the no longer as defensible cities, and over time lost the local expertise for the lost infrastructure. But there were pockets of wealth like Venice and vast stretches of less urbanized people who were unaffected. Your analogy of losing internet access is very apt to the scope of the fall of the Western Roman Empire. If the internet was lost for generations we might still keep 3D printers working in diminished capacity for a long time, but knowledge of HTML would fall to a historical curiosity held by the wealthy. We of course had the Bronze Age Collapse that seems more...apocalyptic though. Entire systems of agriculture and writing were lost along with cities and all but a few civilizations.

[@lemonbread8019]

For Techno-Barbarians, I don't think of Warhammer 40k, I think of the fallout universe. It also makes fallout 4 extremely frustatrating because it's 200 YEARS AFTER THE APOCALYPSE AND THE BEST TOWN IS JUST PEOPLE LIVING IN HOUSES BUILT OUT OF SCRAP IN THE RUINS OF AN OLD BASEBALL STADIUM, WHY WOULDN'T I SIDE WITH THE SLAVERY SCIENTISTS.

[@Jacob-pu4zj]

I'm to go with C: They kidnap your loved ones and replace them with robots. I'd rather side with the Legion than body snatchers.

[@NodDisciple1]

@@Jacob-pu4zj "This town needs your help. I'll put the coordinates on your map."

[@shadfurman]

Considering most people don't understand basic quantum mechanics, I can imagine that science being lost, as well as technologies that take entire factories to produce such as semiconductors. But useful technologies you can make in a garage such as windows, lenses, basic combustion engines, electric motors, refining, etc, I think would stick around.

[@zeash482]

i wish to point towards a game called starsector where nano forges can build anything but the blueprints you need are not reproducable so any advanced technologies are limited in production and poorly understood

[@Emwattnot]

Hey Hey, People...

[@yekokataatheplacetobe7447]

Isaac should definitely try Starsector, if he has any time for video games

[@vovacat1797]

Now it just feels like the whole Stargate franchise is about techno-barbarians. I mean, humans, even though kinda organised and civilized, just use technology of other people (mostly Ancients) without fully comprehending how it works, sometimes being able to repair it, but are never capable of building anything comparable.

[@CCCW]

Yeah, but humans in the SG universe actually try to understand the tech, and often do. It's one of the rare shows where they don't just forget tech, and without spoiling it, the later seasons let us see a VERY different level

[@vovacat1797]

@@CCCW I know, and that's why I love Stargate. We see humans actually adopting alien tech and becoming a force to be reckoned with. It's just that from the Ancients' standpoint, this show is about techno-barbarians.

[@TheArklyte]

Yes... and no. Rewatching Stargate nowadays kind of hurts in some scenes. Remember how staff weapon was compared to P90 and all the dialogue about how P90 is a weapon of war and it's great? Well, what will you choose, a piece of plastic garbage or 37mm recoilless rifle the shot of which isn't affected by gravity that you will never need to repair, clear and that never runs out of ammo? The show ran with "Humanity, fuck yeah!", but over time it kind of lost a grip on its own reality:(

[@vovacat1797]

@@TheArklyte The P90 scene was still kinda badass, but only to show how the Goauld are more barbaric than humans, even though they have bigger ships and MORE GOLD. I mean, Goauld and their armies are pretty much the definition of a barbaric space culture. They're stuck in the dark ages. But I really like how towards the latter parts of it (Let's say, Atlantis) Stargate really started showing how humans naturally choose exploration over war. They still were doing A LOT of shooting, which is somewhat worrying for me, a pacifist, but it's not ABOUT shooting. It can't hide things it inherited from Star Trek. Stargate once promised us the humanity will become the Fifth Race, and well, maybe not in a perfect way, but they did make it true.

[@TheArklyte]

@@vovacat1797 а по мне так смотрелось, что шоу загоняет себя своими же силами в угол избавляясь от злодея. При этом чем меньше у следующего осколка империи Гоаулдов было ресурсов, тем опаснее они становились:D Но это ничто по сравнению с тем, как в Атлантиде гибридов и азуран просто удалили из шоу в течении двух эпизодов. Эти обрывания концов и завели шоу в угол. А потом подошел Universe, который был попыткой копировать BSG и... ну вы знаете эту историю. Just making a random guess here and checking something.

[@ellenmcgowen]

This planet is already overrun with techno-barbarians.

[@ColdHawk]

I look down at the black box of my cell phone and I know in my bones you are right.

[@rochr4]

This is so real, this is probably the most bright video that this channel produced, he the autor talks about this as it is aw some Future problem, it is now the future is now.

[@bimblinghill]

Isaac: "society isn't likely to forget what germs are" The rest of KZbin: "5G causes covid"

[@Dragrath1]

@@bimblinghill While sadly this is more true than I would like Issac seems to be focusing on the whole society level as the knowledge still exists(for now) the real problem is when the anti science whack-jobs commit genocide on the part of humanity that didn't flunk elementary school. He is what we call an eternal optimist. necessarily

[@Avaruusmurkku]

Therapist: It's all right. Flat Kangaroo isn't real, it can't hurt you. Flat Kangaroo: 3:35

[@cielopachirisu929]

3:15 As a huge Medieval history nut, thank you for saying this. Too many people are just happy to see the Middle Ages as a big barbaric time with no technological development or science, when the truth is very far from that.

[@soheil527]

exactly. it is myth that began in the 18th century by cabalist and illuminatists that only greek sciences adavancd us

[@Zippsterman]

The Interdependency trilogy is a good example of intentional withholding of key technologies being used to keep an empire together, while also being it's biggest vulnerability

[@nickwalker4936]

This guy found my mom’s phone and he keeps FaceTiming me telling me to reunite Terra and the lost colonies of mankind In all seriousness, I’m surprised but very happy this video was made.

[@endsinvention1390]

Nick The Undying what do you mean?

[@neoth8647]

@@endsinvention1390 It's part of the lore within the Warhammer 40,000 universe, one of the central figures of the series is a grand leader for humanity and eliminates the presence of techno-barbarians on Earth

[@Wayoutthere]

@@endsinvention1390 We found the HERRETIC

[@ahumanbeingamnayplaceholde1746]

@@endsinvention1390 Also he is also an extremely potent psychic, is capable of fucking over chaos (basically space hell used for FTL travel) with only mind bullets, and is immortal in usual circumstances he dies after a few of his his 20 genetically-engineered sons rebel and remains as a psychic remnant guiding spaceships for FTL travel.

[@rickwrites2612]

I love the recurring visual motif of the kangaroo bounding down the highway.

[@simontmn]

Lots of modern societies where techno-barbarians wield AK47s, RPG-7s, drive Toyota pickups....

[@hunkyhenry6092]

cause a Toyota runs for ever and you don't have to fix it.

[@backwardsman8887]

@@hunkyhenry6092 in Aus certain areas are full of vehicles where welfare recipients drove them until they wouldn't run and then went and bought another one. The government pays the unpaid loan.

[@KellAnderson]

Given what the boys from Top Gear put that one Hilux through, I get the appeal.

[@corwinweber693]

The problem there is that at least the AKs and the Toyotas are both notorious for being incredibly simple, reliable, easy to repair and understand systems. Hell, there's just not much TO an AK47. One of the reasons it's so reliable is that there just isn't much there to break.... and anyone who has even a vague idea of how guns (or any kind of machinery) work can crack one open, look at the mechanisms involved, and figure the whole thing out.

[@useodyseeorbitchute9450]

@David Parry Well... Idea that evolution isn't a thing is also believed on the other side of political spectrum. Could there be some biological differences between sexes that cause differences in behaviour? Could after our lineages split and moved to different environments, a not perfectly identical evolutionary pressure which lead to at least slight differences between ethnic groups including cognitive abilities?

[@christrudden5114]

This video also reminds me of the City of Ember books, and how the city maintained itself but slowly ran out of parts. Yet eventually realized that it was meant to restart technology with the basic tech stored being solar batteries

[@matthewconnor5483]

I had a M2 made by General Motors, not sure the last time GM was making .50 cals.

[@twenty-fifth420]

Warhammer 40k is that one science fantasy universe that somehow is both scientific and unscientific at the same time. It is like Schrodinger's Cat, in a quantum fuzz of uncertainty with the final verdict being given after inspection and analysis as it collapses into a classical state.

[@rommdan2716]

Not really

[@twenty-fifth420]

@@rommdan2716 It was an exaggerated joke. You must be fun at parties.

[@taaviparn9175]

Sounds a bit like StarSector near the end.

[@poughkeepsieblue]

Plenty of hair gel for spiking a mohawk. Love it brother

[@poughkeepsieblue]

MASTER BLASTER!!!

[@Ashasverus]

Nano-Duct Tape Never before have I needed something so badly and not known it.

[@BaseDeltaZero1972]

Science and Futurism (and nano-duct tape). Best channel ever! :)

[@StutleyConstable]

One of my favorite collapsed civilization book series was David Drake's 'Raj Whitehall' series. Drake collaborated with S.M. Sterling and Eric Flint.

[@georgethompson913]

When we look at collapses like in the bronze age or after the fall of rome, we often see that pure technology is kept and maintained however it's instead social organization and infrastructure that goes away. For example the rise of warrior aristocracies armed with more advance weapons (i.e trebuchet/crossbows) but in much smaller (and less complex) armies because the state only has the ability to rais a few hundred men rather than several thousand.

[@mbaxter22]

Very true. Technological progress never really stops. It’s SOCIETY that tends to collapse into smaller, pettier entities,while technology just keeps marching on (especially the technology of war). We humans just won’t give up our love of war; we’ll give up every other form of progress first, we’ll stop researching science and medicine when times are tough, but still will not cut back on weapons R&D.

[@justintillman1929]

I've been waiting for this video since the poll. Thanks for your outstanding work for the imperium of man.