Is it really mightier?
This column's posting date offers us a rare opportunity to question
what is basically an unquestioned truism. It was on this date in 1836 that
Samuel Colt patented his revolving barrel handgun, unquestionably one of
the pivotal inventions of the 19th century. Weapons had, of course, been
around since the dawn of history, and guns had already enjoyed a lengthy
history as well, but Colt made carrying and using a weapon particularly
easy, and thus perhaps single handedly ushering in an era of almost recreational
violence. He has also been credited with epitomizing the equalitarian spirit,
as expressed in at least one version of the
slogan:
Abe Lincoln may have freed all men, but Sam Colt
made them equal.
One year later, on the same date, Thomas Davenport patented an electric
motor that was used to power a printing press. The printing press had already
been around for almost 300 years, and writing was probably only a bit younger
than weaponry. But Davenport's invention, like Colt's one year before him,
made printing almost effortless. Whether or not it did much for equality
is another question.
And now we can ask: which has had more of an influence on our society.
We instinctively want to choose the printing press, but are also fearful
that it's that other invention.