teraflop122 wrote:
The evidence of such creatures is just not there- and yes, evidence would exist. Evidence= remains, skeletons, ecological disruptions, historical records, and etc.
As I have pointed out earlier, it would be highly
unlikely for remains or skeletons for an animal that died a thousand years ago or three thousand years ago to exist today. There is as much physical evidence that dragons existed a few thousand years ago as there is evidence that crocodiles existed a few thousand years ago-- except that we can go out and see a crocodile today. It would be highly unusual for such physical evidence to exist.
I am not sure why you mention ecological disruptions. We really don't have enough information today to make such a measurement about a thousand years ago.
However, there are plenty of "historical" records of dragons. The problem is that the concept of "history" has really changed significantly over the last two thousand years. Modern analysis techniques and attempts to objectively record information are a fairly recent phenomenon. Most writings which have survived the last few thousand years, though, are highly embellished and do not provide a clear distinction between what is real and what is fancy. Unfortunately, these are all we have to work with.
Evidence would be sparse, true, but- if lore and legend are true- it would be there. Any significant interaction with humananity would generate lasting evidence in the form of records- tax deficits, trade disruptions, records which could be cross-referenced. There would be an intricate web of different evidence all supporting the same conclusion, but it isn't so.
Again, we have relatively few official written records from this period of history. I mean, we have a decent collection of official records from the Roman Empire, because they were all over that stuff, but in general they aren't there. If you just want to look at surviving human history written prior to the last 500 years or so, you'd have to conclude that there are only a few different types of animals at all. And depending on your standards of what counts as history, dragons could well make the cut. Also, by excluding said documents, you would essentially be begging the question.
Unless you can produce evidence or logical arguments to your favor- rather than just picking apart this post- then my view and the views of others will remain unchanged.
Oh, I am certain that the views of most people will not change. You seem to think that I am trying to convince you that dragons as depicted in third-rate fantasy novels and movies exist or did exist. That is not an unreasonable thought, but I actually am not attempting to do this.
I am simply attempting to show that it is possible that a dragon-like creature or creatures existed. To do so, all I really need to do is pick apart the criticisms and arguments against their existence.
Also, there are many, many ancient tales of humans killing dragons. That hurts the invincibility argument.
That is the way many stories work. The protagonist defies all odds by defeating a stronger antagonist.
Actually, I was referring to the specific invincibility aspect. "War of the Worlds" was the comparison given. If you've read the book, heard the radio teleplay or seen the movie, you would know
*spoiler alert*
*spoiler alert*
That the humans never, ever had a chance in that story, and there was no triumphant hero overcoming the evil aliens. It was basically an act of God that wound up saving humanity.
*spoiler over*
*spoiler over*
If the story is one of triumph where a human kills a dragon, the dragon's existence is clearly not to show that humans are not invincible.
Writers are free to use dragons to represent plenty of other things, though. I think the original poster who mentioned dragons as simply literary figures has clarified that this is not what he meant anyway.
ZN13 wrote:
Well if dragons are a myth like war of the worlds(I'm not saying they are), then wouldn't it make sense that a proud knight would claim to have killed a dragon? I mean, Bam! Instant fame and fortune.
This would only make sense if the people being told this had some real reason to believe that dragons existed and were worthy of fear.
If you tell me you defeated Lord Voldemort or the Minotaur, I wouldn't be impressed.
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