The Clock Of The Long Now: Time And Responsibility

Abstract

The Clock of the Long Now is an enigmatic study of time in 100 short chapters. Its point of reference is an actual millenial clock helpful for thinking, understanding, and acting responsibly over long periods of time. . Using the designing and building of the Clock of the Long Now as a framework, this is a book about the practical use of long time perspective: how to get it, how to use it, how to keep it in and out of sight. This is a potent book that combines the chronicling of fantastic technology with equally visionary philosophical inquiry. Using the designing and building of the Clock of the Long Now as a framework, this is a book about the practical use of long time perspective: how to get it, how to use it, how to keep it in and out of sight. Here are the central questions it inspires: *How do we make long-term thinking automatic and common instead of difficult and rare? *Discipline in thought allows freedom. One needs the space and reliability to predict continuity to have the confidence not to be afraid of revolutions *Taking the time to think of the future is more essential now than ever, as culture accelerates beyond its ability to be measured *Probable things are vastly outnumbered by countless near-impossible eventualities. Reality is statistically forced to be extraordinary; fiction is not allowed this freedom. This is a potent book that combines the chronicling of fantastic technology with equally visionary philosophical inquiry.

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