> But the significant point that you have missed is how the basics of civilised
> philosophy can be transferred to a new society through a very small number of
> people indeed.

Dave, I don't think that I have missed that. My point was that since most likely such a smaller number of survivors get scattered around the Earth after a significant breakdown, then the next generations of these survivors no longer have the day to day socio-economic input that their parents and grand-parents had! Again, this is just straight and forward logic here...

So what happens next is that the newer generation like for example the great grand kids, starting looking at all the prior books and stories from the great grand parents as myth, etc. For example, we are all doing the same exact thing today...

> It can even happen without people as long as the philosophical (or scientific) texts
> survive and can be understood.

No way Dave! Most of these old text are then viewed as myth and religion and not factual!!!

In this regard, I don't think that you really understand how the human mind works...

> The rennaissance doesn't happen due to survivors of the old civilisation,
> it happens because a new civilisation adopts the philosophies developed
> during the hey days of the old one.

but only to a certain extent since in order to create a new civilization, a lot of new orders and rules have to be made! Look at us today, specially here in the USA where there is always some new law being entered into the books! Do you want more evidence than that!!!???

> That is how free educated civilised thought survives to rise again.

Well, IMHO, I think that you are really confused about this very important issue. I wonder how many more people think like you do about this?

-wirelessguru1