Let us use the Test of Time to evaluate the high point of the Apollo program. It seems that the change in human consciousness that followed Apollo 8’s flight challenges the high point of human ability as represented by the Apollo 11 Moonwalk. At the time, human focus was undoubtedly on Apollo 11 – one out of every six people on the planet watched man’s landing on the moon. Yet under the radar, history had planted another pivotal moment in the American space program that was destined to generate an essential change in human consciousness. The effect of this change follows us deep into the 21st century.
Still, to my mind this is not the most significant surprise hiding under history’s surface in the 1960’s. The most powerful change destined to shake the pillars of our existence was buried deep under the surface of history, concealed in the guise of banality. It would change human abilities and human essence, raise questions about human destiny, and in effect usher in a new human era.
The New Life – Living in Interconnected Networks
The internet is one more product of the Cold War.(6) Spurred by fear of nuclear attack, towards the end of the 1960’s the US Defense Department developed a communications network whose durability was guaranteed because it was independent of communication centers.
The internet developed during the 1980’s. It became a sophisticated communication network, creating a reality of virtual networks, a reality parallel to the real world humanity had inhabited exclusively until then. Towards the end of the 20th century humanity began living in superposition – living simultaneously in both the real world and the virtual world of the network. This virtual network reality has generated a new era of humanity – Humanity’s Global Era. This new era challenges us on all levels while simultaneously pushing us to conquer our next summit. (7)
Download Article 1K Club
