Summary

Chapter 14, the beginning of Part Four, describes the Scientific Revolution. Harari states that prior to AD 1500, technology had remained relatively stagnant. While minor advances were made, he argues that someone could fall asleep for 500 years and wake up in a relatively similar world. This changed, however, when leaders began to invest significantly in scientific research, realizing that it could yield better technology and thus more resources at their disposal. Some of those resources were reinvested in research, continuing the cycle. Modern science is based on ignorance. Scientists admit that we do not know everything about the universe and might be wrong about the things we do claim to know. Thus we should be willing to change our views if counter-evidence emerges. Previously, religion and religious texts provided answers to all the important questions. Further, any answers that religion did not provide were deemed...