I would love in some sense to revive the idea of "civilization" as a compliment rather than a very dull bit of teleological circle-jerking. E.g., what defines a refined, wealthy, successful society, and make that something *contingent*, a result of effort, rather than just "oh dear, my watch is showing 'advanced'". I am with Paul and you on this--what's all this for if not to make beautiful things, care very well for everyone, look after values and ideals even if they're expensive, and so on? Did we run this race in order to be governed by billionaires who insist that everyone must eat gruel and suffer because otherwise there might not be enough money for at least four lazy rivers in the apocalypse shelter they're building?
This is scintillating and chastening--scintillating in the sense that anyone's aesthetics could really be this refined (and I am loathe to add to that, but I'd plead for Edo), chasening in the sense that my own personal aesthetic leisure has degenerated to IP pap. I should give the Idagio subscription another go.
More seriously, what is all this leisure for if we are not creating something? It seems like civilization is made by homo faber to provide a resplendent plinth for the Eloi.
I would love in some sense to revive the idea of "civilization" as a compliment rather than a very dull bit of teleological circle-jerking. E.g., what defines a refined, wealthy, successful society, and make that something *contingent*, a result of effort, rather than just "oh dear, my watch is showing 'advanced'". I am with Paul and you on this--what's all this for if not to make beautiful things, care very well for everyone, look after values and ideals even if they're expensive, and so on? Did we run this race in order to be governed by billionaires who insist that everyone must eat gruel and suffer because otherwise there might not be enough money for at least four lazy rivers in the apocalypse shelter they're building?
This is scintillating and chastening--scintillating in the sense that anyone's aesthetics could really be this refined (and I am loathe to add to that, but I'd plead for Edo), chasening in the sense that my own personal aesthetic leisure has degenerated to IP pap. I should give the Idagio subscription another go.
More seriously, what is all this leisure for if we are not creating something? It seems like civilization is made by homo faber to provide a resplendent plinth for the Eloi.