Naturally

[David C Kifer]

All technology, the chimp's termite-fishing spear and the human's
fishing spear, the beaver's dam and the human's dam, the warbler's
hanging basket and the human's hanging basket, the leaf-cutter ant's
garden and the human's garden, are all fundamentally natural. We tend to
isolate manufactured technology from nature, even to the point of
thinking of it as antinature, only because it has grown to rival the
impact and power of its home. But in its origins and fundamentals, a
tool is as natural as our life. Humans are animals—no argument. But
humans are also not-animals—no argument. This contradictory nature is at
the core of our identity. Likewise, technology is unnatural—by
definition. And technology is natural—by a wider definition. This
contradiction is also core to human identity.
--Kevin Kelly, What Technology Wants (2010)

I've been to many places in the world, the poorest and the richest
spots, the oldest and the newest cities, the fastest and the slowest
cultures, and it is my observation that when given the chance, people
who walk will buy a bicycle, people who ride a bike will get a scooter,
people riding a scooter will upgrade to a car, and those with a car
dream of a plane. Farmers everywhere trade their ox plows for tractors,
their gourd bowls for tin ones, their sandals for shoes. Always.
Insignificantly few ever go back. The exceptions such as the well-known
Amish are not so exceptional when examined closely, for even their
communities adopt selected technology without retreat.
This one-way pull toward technology is either a magical siren,
bewitching the innocent into consuming something they don't really want,
or a tyrant that we are unable to overthrow. Or else technology offers
something highly desirable, something that indirectly leads to greater
satisfaction.
--Kevin Kelly, What Technology Wants (2010)

--
Dave
"Tam multi libri, tam breve tempus!"
(Et brevis pecunia.) [Et breve spatium.]

[tmw]

On 28/01/2011 7:35 AM, David C Kifer wrote:
it is my observation that when given the chance, people
> who walk will buy a bicycle, people who ride a bike will get a scooter,
> people riding a scooter will upgrade to a car, and those with a car
> dream of a plane. Farmers everywhere trade their ox plows for tractors,
> their gourd bowls for tin ones, their sandals for shoes. Always.

________________________________________________

Let's live with that small pittance that we have;
Who covets more, is evermore a slave.
~Robert Herrick 1591 � 1674, The Covetous Still Captives, in Alfred
Pollard, ed., Robert Herrick: The Hesperides and Noble Numbers
(1898)

--
//tmw

Pics of AL
http://aussieladiesofaq.blogspot.com
_____________________________________

[SteveMR200]

On Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:05:38 +1030, tmw wrote in message:
<FC12p.9302$MF5....@viwinnwfe02.internal.bigpond.com>:

>Let's live with that small pittance that we have;
>Who covets more, is evermore a slave.

>~Robert Herrick 1591 - 1674, The Covetous Still Captives, in Alfred

> Pollard, ed., Robert Herrick: The Hesperides and Noble Numbers (1898)

But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it
is certain we can carry nothing out. And having
food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and
a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts,
which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which
while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many
sorrows.
--The Bible, 1 Timothy 6:6-10 KJV

--
Steve