The Clock of the Long Now

I'm in the middle of reading this book by Stewart Brand. It's more than a discussion of a clock that keeps time for 10,000 years but the impact of longer term thinking on our actions and our sense of responsibility for the conquences of those actions.

Imagine the difference between thinking "Me, Right Now!" to "All of us ... for all time."

Or understanding Herman Khan's pragmatic test .... it is not a question of whether things are getting better or worse -- But rather which viewpoint encourages better behaviour. If we think things are getting worse, we reap now and forget about sowing. Optimism - 'tragic optimism' - encourages us to invest in the future.

As John Cage said in response to Laurie Anderson, "Things are getting better -- slowwwly."

... or maybe Bill Cosby had the right idea. Whether the glass is half-empty or half-full depends on whether you're pouring or you're drinking.