George Carlin and Technology
this is a continuation of the previous post and it discusses pesukim that were discussed there.
"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller
buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families,
more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment,more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness...
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but
have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space."
George Carlin- The Paradox of Our Time
People often times blame their unhappiness on some external cause. They blame the fact that they don't have enough time to work or that its too hot outside. They say that if those things weren't there then they would be happy. But then computers and air conditioners are invented, and people are still unhappy. Their expectations of what they are supposed to do simply change and they still feel something missing. Noach too, was able to capture outer space through the technology that he created. And yet, the farmer today is still struggling to make a living.
Instead of focusing outward, people should conquer the space within themselves. Introspection and self evaluation is the proper response. Today, there is a psychotic drive to continue developing newer and better technology. Every year, countries spend trillions of dollars on developing new types of computers hoping that it will solve all their problems. I don't think people realize the obsession with technology that is built into American society. The question is always what can we built or what can we invent. In contrast, how many people really think much about teachers and educators? How many people blame their unhappiness on themselves and their incorrect view of reality? At school, there are classes in computers, science (applied), and technology. But, how many high school classes are there in justice, truth or knowledge?
Technology is not bad. But it must stay in its place. That is the lesson that the Torah is trying to teach us here. It is telling us that Noach was not completely righteous because he improperly viewed technology.
"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller
buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families,
more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment,more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness...
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but
have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space."
George Carlin- The Paradox of Our Time
People often times blame their unhappiness on some external cause. They blame the fact that they don't have enough time to work or that its too hot outside. They say that if those things weren't there then they would be happy. But then computers and air conditioners are invented, and people are still unhappy. Their expectations of what they are supposed to do simply change and they still feel something missing. Noach too, was able to capture outer space through the technology that he created. And yet, the farmer today is still struggling to make a living.
Instead of focusing outward, people should conquer the space within themselves. Introspection and self evaluation is the proper response. Today, there is a psychotic drive to continue developing newer and better technology. Every year, countries spend trillions of dollars on developing new types of computers hoping that it will solve all their problems. I don't think people realize the obsession with technology that is built into American society. The question is always what can we built or what can we invent. In contrast, how many people really think much about teachers and educators? How many people blame their unhappiness on themselves and their incorrect view of reality? At school, there are classes in computers, science (applied), and technology. But, how many high school classes are there in justice, truth or knowledge?
Technology is not bad. But it must stay in its place. That is the lesson that the Torah is trying to teach us here. It is telling us that Noach was not completely righteous because he improperly viewed technology.
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