Board Thread:Warhammer 40k General Discussion/@comment-7232811-20130518221156

A follow up to 'Religion in 40k' that may become a series of threads in its own right (but please don't put them up before I do). This thread will cover this particular issue: how much do people actually know about the way things work? I don't just mean the Imperium in this respect, but all the other races as well. Here's my hypothesis on just how much all the galactic species know about things like atoms, molecules, forces of attraction, cells, nerve impulses, chemical reactions, etc, etc.

Note: Tyranids are not included in this list for obvious reasons.

Humanity (all factions): We all know how humanity has effectively lost almost all knowledge of scientific thought about how things work. But exactly HOW much? From what appears to be on this wiki, certain factions within the mechanicus seem to have a degree of knowledge about evolution & the general field of biology. Perhaps the same sort of thing COULD relate to the other areas that specialise in more technological areas. For the average person though, they seem to have no knowledge of science, (in fact they seem to think of it as heresy) & they believe in things like humours & other, long outdated forms of what was once considered correct. Mind you, everyone in the Imperium (& a good deal of people outside it) appears to have a belief in machine spirits.

Eldar (all kinds): We don't really know that much about Eldar technology, or how it works. Considering the sheer amount of psychic technology they have though (craftworld ones that is), the semi-organic nature of a lot of it as well (wraithbone that is), & the fact that they appear to be able to replicate a good deal of the more advanced stuff, & design new things when they have to, suggests that they understand it a good deal better than we do (though they probably have very different sciences to us).

Necrons: OK, most Necrons don't have any knowledge apart from the subject of killing, but the crypteks appear to have a good deal of not only knowledge, but understanding about the way their ludicrously complex technology works. Exactly how it works, or how they understand it, we won't know, but if they can understand it, then presumably they will know more about the subject of science than any other race in 40k, (with the possible exception of the old ones) & certainly have a lot more 'sciences' than we do at the moment, & probably will ever develop.

Orks: They probably (or should that be definately?) have no knowledge of exactly things work, let alone actual science. They simply are not geared towards understanding anything that does not concern war.

Tau: The Earth Caste do appear to understand science very well, considering the sheer amount of it they churn out every year, so presumably they also understand things that concern things of a more organic nature as well. No doubt they also understand science better than we do, especially given the nature of how much science & technology has regressed in humanity in the 41st millenium.

Thoughts? 