I am guilty of toiling too hard and often feeling like a machine, but I don't think it's in pursuit of wealth. I just seemed to be wired to overload and constantly test the circuits!
I think Thoreau's description is especially true for the American mind.
However, I think it is just the tip of the iceberg.
I think you'd really like Martin Heidegger's Question Concerning Technology , Richard. It's only about 30 pages, but he gives an incredible explanation and description of the western, modern paradigm.
Essentially, the westen mind views everything as a standing-reserve of potential energy, as the means toward an end. We never truly see things as they are, but only in how they can serve our needs. “To a certain extent, Heidegger argues, technology transforms humanity itself into standing-reserve. The forester, for example, is at the mercy of the paper industry, which in turn is at the mercy of the print industry, which in turn transforms the reading public into a source of its own profits. He also notes that our use of the expression "human resources" aligns human beings with raw materials such as coal or petroleum.We might say that for technology, nothing in the world is "good" in and of itself, but only "good for" something.” http://www2.hawaii.edu/~zuern/demo/heidegger/
Most of us are indeed, caught up in the "fast paced race to succeed", our definition of success being acquisition of material resources...."things"..houses, cars, cottages, and status symbols like travel, cultural outings...
Would be nice to eliminate this madness and go back to simpler times of subsistence farming ...much less stress and way more appreciation. Ah, should have been a pioneer! But, Susannah Moodie, I am not!!
[19September-2007 @ 17:11 EST: Revised preamble. This page still gets the most search hits: There is no Anthony de Croud. The e-mail is SPAM. I post things that pique my fancy at the moment. I like the 8 precepts, but the rest of the e-mail is junk. However, I thought it fair to post everything in its entirety. I did not write the e-mail. I did not forward the e-mail. I strongly encourage you not to forward it either. (I also encourage you to reply to whomever sent you the e-mail and tell them you don't appreciate getting junk mail.)] Received this in our e-mail (English translation follows): PRECEPTO CHINO SOBRE EL DINERO EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR UNA CASA, PERO NO UN HOGAR, EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR UN RELOJ, PERO NO EL TIEMPO. EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR UNA CAMA, PERO NO EL SUEÑO. EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR UN LIBRO, PERO NO EL CONOCIMIENTO. EL DINERO PUEDE PAGAR UN MÉDICO, PERO NO LA SALUD. EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR UNA POSICIÓN, PERO NO EL RESPETO. EL DINERO PUEDE COMPRAR LA SANGRE, PERO
All I long for, all I have longed for for years is to retire (prior to wanting to retire, my ambition was to play). Given a chance not to work, I would take it. However, this is not because of laziness or some inherent trait of sloth. Rather it is because I want to pursue my own interests and ideas; I want to do my own thing. One of the saddest things I find in talking with people about not working (aside from obvious disapproval) is that they like working, they would get bored not working, after all, there is only so much TV one can watch. Hmmm ... a pretty sad comment I think. I have a mind full of ideas. There are lots of things which grab my interest, which distract me as I journey through life. Finding what I want to do is hard., because every week I can have a new thing I want to pursue. Some might argue that I am not disciplined. Definitely, I am a poor finisher - great starter, but lousy finisher. I believe I have found what my ideal job would be: owning and running an incubato
Borrowing and modifying an idea from Ingrid , I present 14 bits of information about myself. Seven are real. Seven are false. This is also partially inspired by Carra 's post about weird things about herself. When I was into model rocketry, I used to roll my own rocket engines and make my own rocket fuel. I often had "catastrophic" engine failure. I have never been intoxicated. Not even a little bit "happy". I have had the privilege and pleasure of going out with women from every continent except Antarctica (for the obvious reason there are no indigenous Antarcticans). I volunteered one Christmas at a soup kitchen. I naively believed that such simple acts of generosity helped people over temporary setbacks until they could get back on their feet. The reality was these people were pretty wretched and needed far more than a ladled bowl of soup, a slice of turkey, some stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce to get them "over the hump". It was a sta
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However, I think it is just the tip of the iceberg.
I think you'd really like Martin Heidegger's Question Concerning Technology , Richard. It's only about 30 pages, but he gives an incredible explanation and description of the western, modern paradigm.
Essentially, the westen mind views everything as a standing-reserve of potential energy, as the means toward an end. We never truly see things as they are, but only in how they can serve our needs. “To a certain extent, Heidegger argues, technology transforms humanity itself into standing-reserve. The forester, for example, is at the mercy of the paper industry, which in turn is at the mercy of the print industry, which in turn transforms the reading public into a source of its own profits. He also notes that our use of the expression "human resources" aligns human beings with raw materials such as coal or petroleum.We might say that for technology, nothing in the world is "good" in and of itself, but only "good for" something.” http://www2.hawaii.edu/~zuern/demo/heidegger/
well,i had a good read as usual. :)
thanx for sharing :)
Would be nice to eliminate this madness and go back to simpler times of subsistence farming ...much less stress and way more appreciation. Ah, should have been a pioneer! But, Susannah Moodie, I am not!!