Dr. Noonian Soongs conversation with Data, below, about old things sounds good, but it only has a ring of partial truth to it. Really, in the end, we seem to be creatures who habitually forget the past while habitually making more of us, who go on to habitually forget the past and habitually create more of us....and we wonder why we live in such overburdened times. It seems to me that we proceed into the future as if everything is just business as usual, while consistently failing to learn the lessons of the past which are necessary and prepatory to creating a future that is anything other than a large and very imposing question mark. The continuity in human life and civilization that Soong speaks of turns out to be idealized, illusive. As a species we are haphazard, and it shows. ------- DR. NOONIAN SOONG SPEAKS WITH DATA ABOUT OLD THINGS. Now let me ask you a question: Why are humans so fascinated by old things? Old things? - Old buildings, churches, walls, ancient things, antique things, tables, clocks, knick-knacks. Why? There are many possible explanations. If you brought a Noophian to Earth, hed probably look around and say, Tear that old village down, its hanging in rags. Build me something new and efficient! But to a human, that old house, that ancient wall, its a shrine, something to be cherished. Again, I ask you, why? Perhaps, for humans, old things represent a tie to the past. Whats so important about the past? People got sick, they needed money. Why tie yourself to that? Humans are mortal. They seem to need a sense of continuity. Why? To give their lives meaning, a sense of purpose. And this continuity, does it only run one way, backwards, to the past? I suppose it is a factor in the human desire to procreate. So you believe that having children gives humans a sense.....of immortality. Do you? It is a reasonable explanation to your query, sir.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 23:46:41 +0000
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