We need to do it on our own.

Good and bad aliens?

That's got to be over simplifying it. "You can't stop progress" as they say. Humanity has existed in the exchanging of knowledge since we first picked up sticks and used them as tools.

Knowledge spreads, and usually with trade. The Celts spread their knowledge across most of Europe in the process of trading with the local peoples. Writing sprwad from ancient Iraq via the same mechanism. People didn't invent everything independantly. We all make small advances in our own ways and then trade our knowledge and resources off in exchange for others. That's how it works.

These aliens, whatever race, they probably want something from us, whether resources, raw materials, political support, whatever. Nordics may not want abductees, but they would probably want something.

And about the learning bit. We inherit knowledge from the countless generations of humans that have lived before us. Children aren't made to invent tthe wheel when they go to school - they learn about it.

Similarly, who's never tinkered with a radio or a wind-up clock when they were a kid? It takes a certain amount of intelligence to pick up something you don't understand and work out the mechanics of it for yourselve. Its all about staying curious.

I take your point about becomming dependant. But that's all a state of mind. You look at the general public. How many of us are truely bothered enough to figure out how a computer chip really works? Or even basic survival skills? If society collapsed tommorow, how many of us would be able to grow crops, make our own clothes, start a fire etc? We already have millions of dependant people living in our society, but that's entirely their responsibility. As long as there are still people who are curious about the universe, I think we'll end up okay.