In this article, we will develop a principle belonging to both astrophysics and human sciences, taking its root from our common history. It could be used as a statement to characterize the technological, demographic and chronological development of the human civilization in its conquest of space (on Earth and space as well). This principle could ─ hypothetically ─ be applied to any intelligent species from the Kardachev scale colonizing a new celestial body.
European exploration of the West: We chose here to view Christopher Colombus (1492 - 1504) as the discoverer of the Americas (which isn't the case for every culture). The first exploration phase of the early 16th century was well-financed and well-sponsored by European states, creating a strong infatuation for these lands.
Exploration of the Moon: There were 6 manned flights to the Moon between 1969 and 1972, with the firsts steps by Neil Armstrong during the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969. The lunar exploration is still going on, with the many rovers and satellites sent. Huge funds have been invested ─ but relatively small compared to the global GDP ─ allowing real technical and technological achievements on a human scale. The colonization of Mars and the Moon is a serious project to date, and exposes a convergence of knowledge and human resources with a common desire for exploration.
Kardashev scale: The Kardachev scale was introduced by the Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardachev in 1964. This scale theoretically classifies a civilization according to its energy consumption and its technological level. It is used by researchers of the SETI program (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) and people practising futurology. The Kardachev scale lists three types of civilizations, respectively:
Type I for a civilization which can use all the power of its home planet
Type II for a civilization able to collect all the power of its home star
Type III for a civilization able to exploit all the power of its galaxy
Idea shot :
The "jump" notion used to name this principle comes from the empirical observation that the colonization of a new space ─ or celestial object ─ represents a multidisciplinary breakthrough and marks a major progression for a civilization (wherever it is on the Kardachev scale).
In the expression of this principle, each new colonized celestial object is, by incrementation (or iteration), an intense merging of the most advanced technical, technological, human, financial, and social knowledge of the civilization in its time towards a new place to live.
The neat and reduced form of this principle applied to astrophysics could be: Every new place colonized by an intelligent species centralizes the most advanced techniques and technologies of this civilization in its time.
Open to thoughts:
From a philosophical point of view, this principle may raise interesting questions about a possible privatization of the Solar system colonization, or other systems, as well as the eugenic aspect that seems necessary in the selection of pioneer individuals for the colonization, and those selected during exchanges of human resources (we may need to specify that going in space requires hard and strict training).
To explore the field of questions that this principle is raining down upon us, we may have to connect-the-dots between:
The size of the colony
The materials requirement for colonization
The social organisation of the colony
The financial operation of the colony
The scientific contribution and needs
The state-of-the-art technological and societal status
Its legal and material dependence on the mother planet (eg: Earth)
The human and social conditions of access
This principle could be declined to war analysis in the following statement: Every warfield centralizes the most advanced techniques and technologies of the different opponents in its time.
Which, in matter of strategy, is leading us back to the information role in war, as knowing the opponent's techniques and technologies is a key of success in a conflict, justifying spy games.
It could also be declined to a more individual ─ or life ─ centered statement as following: Every being uses his most advanced techniques to ensure his own survival.
This could be justified by behavioural and social sciences as well as war exigences (theorically speaking), exposing the natural and reciprocal needs of inviduals beings and groups to defend, sustain, and expand themselves.