Great take by @inkwellstory and @sherryning. "Wonder hides under the moss on the giant rocks by the sea. It sits lodged in forgotten diaries at the thrift store. It shimmers in the eyes of cats and the sound of waterfalls. It’s whatever leads to the depth; it leads to more, not less. It’s what Lord Byron meant by, “The great art of life is sensation, to feel that we exist, even in pain.”
She writes that we are in danger not of machines becoming more like us but us becoming more like machines. When she writes about "wonder" it reminds me of the simple act of paying attention. Walking in a forest, being with people, viewing a landscape - we can notice it, check, saw it, ok what's next?- or we can pay attention and see the details.
Being human is this connection, seeing, feeling, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting.
Perhaps the robots will gain all of these senses as well . . .
But we will pay attention and notice not just the details but the design . . . and the Designer.
It's what the Savage says at the end of Brave New World: "I want pain. I want suffering and disease. I want sin."
While sin is something to be abhorred, the Savage's determination to reject comfort and pleasure in order to live in the real world is both admirable and achievable.
"I exist.’ In thousands of agonies — I exist. I’m tormented on the rack — but I exist! Though I sit alone in a pillar — I exist! I see the sun, and if I don’t see the sun, I know it’s there. And there’s a whole life in that, in knowing that the sun is there."
Great take by @inkwellstory and @sherryning. "Wonder hides under the moss on the giant rocks by the sea. It sits lodged in forgotten diaries at the thrift store. It shimmers in the eyes of cats and the sound of waterfalls. It’s whatever leads to the depth; it leads to more, not less. It’s what Lord Byron meant by, “The great art of life is sensation, to feel that we exist, even in pain.”
She writes that we are in danger not of machines becoming more like us but us becoming more like machines. When she writes about "wonder" it reminds me of the simple act of paying attention. Walking in a forest, being with people, viewing a landscape - we can notice it, check, saw it, ok what's next?- or we can pay attention and see the details.
Being human is this connection, seeing, feeling, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting.
Perhaps the robots will gain all of these senses as well . . .
But we will pay attention and notice not just the details but the design . . . and the Designer.
thank you Jonathan!
It's what the Savage says at the end of Brave New World: "I want pain. I want suffering and disease. I want sin."
While sin is something to be abhorred, the Savage's determination to reject comfort and pleasure in order to live in the real world is both admirable and achievable.
all of us need to go literally touch some grass after reading this essay
"I'm drained", "I need to get dialed", "he's a machine". Struck by how our language shows how we view our bodies
That was very insightful, thank you. Time to switch of the screen and live a bit I think. Take care.
Brood parasites are such an apt metaphor! Love your thoughts here.
This is IT.
the body works and works. why all this work? there are dollar signs behind my eyes, where i cannot see them.
"I exist.’ In thousands of agonies — I exist. I’m tormented on the rack — but I exist! Though I sit alone in a pillar — I exist! I see the sun, and if I don’t see the sun, I know it’s there. And there’s a whole life in that, in knowing that the sun is there."
Loved this! It is so much more than slow living, it is also subtraction and a way of living fully present. So well said. 🩵