Actually, if there were 'enough' hours in the day, then we would eventually change what our expectation of what can be done in one day actually is. As a result, we'd still end up with a situation where there "aren't enough hours" to do what is expected of us in the allocated time.
Thus the only way to truly rid us of this hackneyed phrase is to get rid of the word 'hours' altogether. Sure people would still use another word like minutes, but at least it would be more interesting.
Perhaps if everyone had rational expectations of what they could achieve and ensure that they do not shy from their responsibilities, then we wouldn't have to use the phrase at all, for the sentiment it represents would no longer exist.
Of course in 40 years time (cause 2050 is a great arbitrary benchmark for 'some point in the future') our life will be governed solely by mechanical and electronic impulse. Everyone will be so physically adept and mentally agile and perfectly nourished that there will no longer be any need for 'sentiment' of whatever shape or form. For surely feelings and opinions, and other such social anxieties, only emerge when our mind has been taken of the ball. The ball of life. Some might call this 'the grind', but that in itself is a pretty emotive, yea, sentimental descriptor. For once we are in the flow of things, our 'grind' becomes us. We no longer perceive it to be a grind, it is not a chore or a task to be got out of the way. What is worse, hard work or the anticipation of it?
Birthday tomorrow! I've heard a few dull iconoclasts complain about the fact birthdays are 'arbitrary' - aside from the fact that the earth is at the same point in the orbit cycle as it was the day you were born, there is nothing special about birthdays, and so there is no need to celebrate anything.
Thus the only way to truly rid us of this hackneyed phrase is to get rid of the word 'hours' altogether. Sure people would still use another word like minutes, but at least it would be more interesting.
Perhaps if everyone had rational expectations of what they could achieve and ensure that they do not shy from their responsibilities, then we wouldn't have to use the phrase at all, for the sentiment it represents would no longer exist.
Of course in 40 years time (cause 2050 is a great arbitrary benchmark for 'some point in the future') our life will be governed solely by mechanical and electronic impulse. Everyone will be so physically adept and mentally agile and perfectly nourished that there will no longer be any need for 'sentiment' of whatever shape or form. For surely feelings and opinions, and other such social anxieties, only emerge when our mind has been taken of the ball. The ball of life. Some might call this 'the grind', but that in itself is a pretty emotive, yea, sentimental descriptor. For once we are in the flow of things, our 'grind' becomes us. We no longer perceive it to be a grind, it is not a chore or a task to be got out of the way. What is worse, hard work or the anticipation of it?
Birthday tomorrow! I've heard a few dull iconoclasts complain about the fact birthdays are 'arbitrary' - aside from the fact that the earth is at the same point in the orbit cycle as it was the day you were born, there is nothing special about birthdays, and so there is no need to celebrate anything.
However, in a sense years and days are one of the very few real things that exist. They're not human constructs in anyway - the number of days in a year, for instance, is not a matter of choice, it's a matter of physics, as we can not change the definition of a day or a year as we could a week or a month. Or for that matter a minute, a second, a metre... et cetera.
The arbitrariness which the hyper-rationalists criticize is, of course, not the measurements of days or years themselves, but the tendency to celebrate them. Well, this raises the question - "why celebrate anything?". Which in turn raises the question "why do anything whatsoever about anything at all... ever?" Why do things that will improve my emotional state when I know, at the end of the day, that mood is essentially an illusion brought about by chemical imbalances in my body.
I've got more to say about the hypocrisies of atheists, but that can wait for another blog post.
The arbitrariness which the hyper-rationalists criticize is, of course, not the measurements of days or years themselves, but the tendency to celebrate them. Well, this raises the question - "why celebrate anything?". Which in turn raises the question "why do anything whatsoever about anything at all... ever?" Why do things that will improve my emotional state when I know, at the end of the day, that mood is essentially an illusion brought about by chemical imbalances in my body.
I've got more to say about the hypocrisies of atheists, but that can wait for another blog post.
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