5 ms·

I sometimes imagine, with horror, what would happen if after 500 years of progress, humanity were to realize that almost all cultural practices they painfully,

I sometimes imagine, with horror, what would happen if after 500 years of progress, humanity were to realize that almost all cultural practices they painfully, one by one, undid, were all sensible to begin with for reasons that humanity didn't previously understand.

rdruxn 9y ago
What an interesting writing prompt
- lloeki 9y ago
  Indeed, and submitted[0] right away. [0]: https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7p2ubq/wp_a_group_of_scientists_and_philosophers_realize/?st=JC6UO8ZG&sh=e56b9ee7 https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7p2ubq/wp_a...
Chaebixi 9y ago
> I sometimes imagine, with horror, what would happen if after 500 years of progress, humanity were to realize that almost all cultural practices they painfully, one by one, undid, were all sensible to begin with for reasons that humanity didn't previously understand. Especially since modern cultural change seems to have a tendency to be driven by the youngest politically-aware cohorts. Not a lot of time to acquire wisdom that might prevent that, if you're so young you haven't even collected enough knowledge yet.
inciampati 9y ago
Beautifully written. This thought that I have often half-pondered has now become unified and unforgettable. Thank you.
acchow 9y ago
“If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God”
- deadmetheny 9y ago
  Or, alternatively, you'll be driven mad by the sight and your entire civilization will collapse. http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/AST389/TEXTS/Nightfall.htm http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/AST389/TEXTS/Nightfall.h...
Dylan16807 9y ago
Tiny positive effects are not worth the downsides of most of those. So even if that's somehow true it's okay.
Retra 9y ago
You're just describing evolution. We almost assuredly don't practice most of the habits of whatever sludge we evolved from, regardless of how useful it is to sludge to continue such practices. And if we stop doing things, we will probably do so for reasons just as valid as why our ancestors started them.
User23 9y ago
This is basically the position of the alt-right, neoreaction, and similar "movements."

rdruxn 9y ago

What an interesting writing prompt

lloeki 9y ago
Indeed, and submitted[0] right away. [0]: https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7p2ubq/wp_a_group_of_scientists_and_philosophers_realize/?st=JC6UO8ZG&sh=e56b9ee7 https://www.reddit.com/r/WritingPrompts/comments/7p2ubq/wp_a...

Chaebixi 9y ago

> I sometimes imagine, with horror, what would happen if after 500 years of progress, humanity were to realize that almost all cultural practices they painfully, one by one, undid, were all sensible to begin with for reasons that humanity didn't previously understand. Especially since modern cultural change seems to have a tendency to be driven by the youngest politically-aware cohorts. Not a lot of time to acquire wisdom that might prevent that, if you're so young you haven't even collected enough knowledge yet.

inciampati 9y ago

Beautifully written. This thought that I have often half-pondered has now become unified and unforgettable. Thank you.

acchow 9y ago

“If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore; and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God”

deadmetheny 9y ago
Or, alternatively, you'll be driven mad by the sight and your entire civilization will collapse. http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/AST389/TEXTS/Nightfall.htm http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/AST389/TEXTS/Nightfall.h...

Dylan16807 9y ago

Tiny positive effects are not worth the downsides of most of those. So even if that's somehow true it's okay.

Retra 9y ago

You're just describing evolution. We almost assuredly don't practice most of the habits of whatever sludge we evolved from, regardless of how useful it is to sludge to continue such practices. And if we stop doing things, we will probably do so for reasons just as valid as why our ancestors started them.

User23 9y ago

This is basically the position of the alt-right, neoreaction, and similar "movements."