Module 12

 begin to flesh out your ideas by writing at least 2 paragraphs in response to each question in the prompt. That prompt is copied below for your convenience, and the questions to respond to are underlined:

 How has your chosen element of America’s founding world view evolved from the 1700s until today? 

As time passes in the U.S. past the 1700’s, many more inventions continue to improve on our way of life. Independence of the old world takes hold and a clean slate of scholars and creators begins a history of science that continues today. Modernization begins to pick up speed in the 1800s bringing us Magnets, Light Bulbs, and Farming Combines which increased agriculture productivity. We also had medical advancements like the creation of many vaccinations  which lead to extended life expectancy and size in the new generation of Americans. 

Combining all of the inventions from the 1700s–1800s, our nation's innovation took center stage as this nation grew its interdependency of European control. Liberty and Freedom also became an American motto that resounded across the globe with signs of uninhibited growth potential for all those willing to make the journey across the Atlantic Ocean. The vision to come to America for civil independence and freedom to create spurred growth in immigration. Some of the smartest minds made the trek for a new life in a new world.

What are some historical examples that demonstrate just how strong a thread this element is in defining the vision and values of “America” – i.e. the USA? 

As the United States grew, so did the opportunities for a new life. Joining old ideas with new applications and approaches separated American ingenuity from other nations and continents. European nations had a long history of the order, traditions, and ways of thinking. This history is what differentiated American scientists, no longer did they have to answer to the science guilds and societies of Europe. New schools of thought and experimentation took hold, new approaches and new obstacles presented themselves that needed solving.

Science is now a well-known subject for scholars and so was the continued growth from the late 1800s, now doubling in speed and development in America. The creation of flight, harnessing atomic energy, nuclear energy, solar energy, to the creation of computers, cell phones, and now our next evolutionary jump to Artificial Intelligence. There is no turning back to the sands of time, we can only leap forward with these new inventions and see where we as humans go from here.

Is the element as compelling to people today as it was in the 1700s? Is there evidence it is going through a paradigm shift? 

The term, “The 4^th Estate” refers to the Age of Artificial Intelligence. The last 300 years (the 1700s, 1800s, 1900s) brought us the study of nature aka science. All of the inventions and ideas have jumped our understanding of nature and the universe century after century. We have now reached a point that we need assistance to make the next jump, with the assistance of computer power. The programming of a thinking machine with all of the knowledge amassed 1,000’s of years at the key stroke of a keyboard is astounding. Access via the world’s knowledge via hand held devices like our cell phones and even with the assistance of our home devices like “Hey GOOGLE” & “ALEXA” is mind boggling.

Our children only know of such advancements to the point that genetic manipulation, human cybernetic enhancements and gene splicing is now the norm. There is a new “paradigm shift” in our understanding of what we as humans have created to this point. The equations and solutions are beginning to surpass our current conceptual thinking, additional aid is now required. Computer Thinking is now using all of the amassed human knowledge and forecasting new directions, formulas and even creations with us as the helm. Algorithms, equations, data mining and solutions to the new questions of science can now only be answered by the implementation of Artificial intelligence.