Part 2/8:
The article begins with a playful inquiry into the origins of the lighter and the match, enticing readers to consider which was invented first. This serves as an entry point for a deeper examination of how we often misinterpret the development of technology through a lens of linear progress. While many would instinctively think that the match came before the lighter due to its simpler design, this assumption would be incorrect.
In fact, the first safety match was created by John Walker in 1827, while the lighter, designed by Johann Wolfgang Dobbereiner, appeared several years prior. This highlights a recurring theme: our genealogy of technological understanding does not follow a straightforward path of increasing complexity.