without the presence philosophical thought science would have never been taken seriously. the enlightenment had to do with many new ideas, namely the secularization of government and life outside of the church, this cleared the way for great scientific advances to be made unobstructed by persecution . to put philosophy and science in the ring with one another is like holding a grape next to the vine it was yielded and asking "which is better?".

more like a solution if you ask me, we are going to end our world though the devises you mentioned, power lines ect. so in actuality your "end of the world" hypothesis is but a preventive measure for the armageddon humanity is bringing on itself and the earth as a whole. bring it solar flare!

As to that no one is curtain. However, using reason and modern knowledge we know that the metier heading for earth is another couple hundred years away, all forms of deadly diseases known to man are not capable of wiping out humanity in the next 2 years, Yellowstone could erupt but that will not be the end of the world and the recession is easing up(haha).It's all in Gods hands but when observing history as a prolific tool, which is the whole point of history, one can conclude that we are HIGHLY LIKELY to still exist beyond the year 2012.