>>11472778The problem is that technology is an iterative process. We build simple tools, and use those to build more complex tools, and so on. A process of thousands of years.
Many people today are familiar with complex tools like computer programs, cellphones, microwave ovens, and so on and so forth. But I doubt most people are acquainted with the simpler tools those tools sprang from.
In the event of a total collapse of civilization, how many truly have the knowledge to build things from scratch or using intermediate tools? We have lots of pharmacists with knowledge of thousands of medicines, but can they synthetize the basics from herbal plants? We have engineers that can design a space probe on a PC, but can they figure out how to manufacture iron, steel or aluminum starting from scratch? We have farmers running large operations with harvester combines, but could they run a farm with no oil, electricity or fertilizers?
It is a problem as much of education as of economies of scale. Depending on how big the setback it could take decades to get modern industrial civilization running again.
