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Message: <blockquote data-quote="S'mon" data-source="post: 4654653" data-attributes="member: 463">Technology is one area where superiority is easy to measure - "superior" means "achieves intended function better". So the M1A1 tank is superior to the T72 tank because when they fight, as intended, the T72 almost always gets blown up, which is undesired.  There may be good societal reasons for retaining inferior technology (eg: ban crossbows or firearms to maintain the feudal order), but that does not mean it's not inferior as technology..Conversely, I think when it comes to societal development we can say that a society is 'more advanced' in that it has gone through more measureable stages of development, and 'more fit' in that it will tend to prevail in clashes with competing societies, but not necessarily that it is 'better' than another society which has different aims and social ordering.</blockquote>