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LiteralElite · 31-35, F
One thing we have to remember is that nearly all medieval buildings *don't* survive, because they were either made of wood, or not well built. And I'm quite sure masons who designed and built the cathedral weren't always that bothered about God either, just very careful...desire to honour God might come into it but so would not wanting a 50T block of stone to fall on their head (many died in its building originally)
(Whereas the Twin Towers everyone now recognises were not well built; the Empire State Building may well have survived a similar kind of attack, etc).
But I think your broader point - no longer in the 20th or 21st centuries do we ever do anything to last, considering the future, is an awful place for humanity to be
(Whereas the Twin Towers everyone now recognises were not well built; the Empire State Building may well have survived a similar kind of attack, etc).
But I think your broader point - no longer in the 20th or 21st centuries do we ever do anything to last, considering the future, is an awful place for humanity to be
novembermoon · 51-55
Agree with this so much. Modernity. What has it taken away from us that we are too busy to notice? Everything is but a chasing after the wind.
These days, there is a lot of talk about automation and building smart cities. We have driverless vehicles and cashierless checkouts at supermarkets. Are these necessary? If we have really progressed, why are there still people breaking their backs doing hard labour repairing roads and clearing sewage under the hot equatorial sun? Don't know if this is relevant but I cannot understand it really.
Purpose and conscience in our work. You have hit the nail on the head. When people are alienated from what they do and the product of their labour, there is little affection towards it. I see it here a lot especially so because of the hierarchical way work is structured in our Asian society. When you have crap leaders, even if you love your job, it can be hellish.
Sorry. After a long hard week, this has become a bit of a rant.
And yes, sometimes I say 'to hell with it'.
These days, there is a lot of talk about automation and building smart cities. We have driverless vehicles and cashierless checkouts at supermarkets. Are these necessary? If we have really progressed, why are there still people breaking their backs doing hard labour repairing roads and clearing sewage under the hot equatorial sun? Don't know if this is relevant but I cannot understand it really.
Purpose and conscience in our work. You have hit the nail on the head. When people are alienated from what they do and the product of their labour, there is little affection towards it. I see it here a lot especially so because of the hierarchical way work is structured in our Asian society. When you have crap leaders, even if you love your job, it can be hellish.
Sorry. After a long hard week, this has become a bit of a rant.
And yes, sometimes I say 'to hell with it'.
Cierzo · M
@novembermoon Many interesting questions here.
There are jobs that are physically hard, dangerous. I think of miners, for instance. Many have died, and still die. If robots did the work, less children would be orphan and less women widow
On the other hand, there are jobs when human interaction is a must, like ours. Sadly, what is happening is that we are becoming human robots, just following orders or doing bureocratic work, our work becomes more soulless every day, a mere transaction of time and energy for money.
There are jobs that are physically hard, dangerous. I think of miners, for instance. Many have died, and still die. If robots did the work, less children would be orphan and less women widow
On the other hand, there are jobs when human interaction is a must, like ours. Sadly, what is happening is that we are becoming human robots, just following orders or doing bureocratic work, our work becomes more soulless every day, a mere transaction of time and energy for money.
OwnerOfMany · 90-99, M
I agree with your assessment of the people but I disagree that it is capitalism that is to blame. It is moral decay, the breakdown of the family, the acceptance of immoral attitudes and acts all over the globe. People have turned their backs on truth, honor, sentiment, and appreciation of the accomplishments of those who built civilizations before them. They have turned their backs on God or whatever they perceive the almighty as being and put their faith in man. It is a pity that mankind has become so superficial.
The Cathedral was built with earth, stone, and virgin timber by men who put part of themselves into each thing they did. Men who believed in their hearts that this building was a holy place meant to stand the test of time. it is a work of art, a work of faith, and an architectural masterpiece.
It may have been by the hand of man but it was and is by the grace of God.
The Cathedral was built with earth, stone, and virgin timber by men who put part of themselves into each thing they did. Men who believed in their hearts that this building was a holy place meant to stand the test of time. it is a work of art, a work of faith, and an architectural masterpiece.
It may have been by the hand of man but it was and is by the grace of God.
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SW-User
Yes exactly can you imagine a modern build taking 200 years to construct, no one would see the point! Now everyone is only interested in what’s directly in front of them, no consideration for what comes hundreds of years in to the future. This is the problem with capitalism. We have forgotten about collectivism and we focus solely on the individual.
Cierzo · M
@SW-User I had a similar discussion with another. We agreed that rather than capitalism, which is the practical way to act, it is greed, thirst for getting a high profit and getting it now,the root of many evils.
Talking about collectivism, a flaw I often see is that we think of being collective in space, with people of different lands, but not in time, with those who lived before us and those who will live in the future. Unfortunately that mindset prevents us from taking up works that would last for decades. We want to see the results now. Narcissism.
Talking about collectivism, a flaw I often see is that we think of being collective in space, with people of different lands, but not in time, with those who lived before us and those who will live in the future. Unfortunately that mindset prevents us from taking up works that would last for decades. We want to see the results now. Narcissism.
Mugin16 · 46-50, M
I agree with both points.
Just a minor objection, modernity has partly destroyed Notre Dame. The wooden roof and spire has been destroyed - and cannot be reconstructed in the original way as such big and thick oaks do not exist anymore - but the stone structures and towers have survived. The stone masons of the 13th century really built for eternity.
Just a minor objection, modernity has partly destroyed Notre Dame. The wooden roof and spire has been destroyed - and cannot be reconstructed in the original way as such big and thick oaks do not exist anymore - but the stone structures and towers have survived. The stone masons of the 13th century really built for eternity.
Shutterbug · 56-60, M
I think if a plane crashed into the catherdral, not sure it would have survived....