« shopping for board games | Main | Orchestra Pit »

pinchbeck

The process of Apocalypse involves a realization that Western civilization is founded on a fundamentally flawed conception of time. Through our solar calendars, desynchronized from natural cycles, and our technological projections, we have reified a conception of time as an unvarying linear extension akin to space, in which ultimate fulfillment or completion lies in a far-distant and undefined future condition. We are constantly projecting our hopes, dreams, and desires onto the future — acting as though the present moment is somehow insufficient, founded upon a lack or failure of being.

Daniel Pinchbeck guest-blogs at Non-Prophet.

Posted by Mike on November 19, 2005 7:15 PM |

Comments

Thanks!

Posted by: sudama | November 21, 2005 12:20 PM

I think we have to realize that the world is literally melting down right now — along with the great extinction crisis and accelerated climate change, we are in a period of vast cultural extinction, with half of the world’s 6,000 languages on the verge of disappearing. Let’s take stock of the urgency of the situation, and measure our actions according to reality rather than some nonexistent ideal of purity. I actually always feel incredibly comfortable whenever I am in the indigenous world — I feel like I understand their way of looking at reality, and have no conflict with their value system, intentions, or priorities. Frankly, I generally feel far more confused, nonplussed, and depressed sitting at a table of upper middle class white people, who will exert enormous amounts of energy talking about stupid gossip or idiotic vacations or dumb junk they have purchased, rather than examining things that are actually important — like the fact their opulent lifestyle and refusal to take responsibility for their thoughts and actions is condemning an entire planet to death.

Evolver: An Interview With Daniel Pinchbeck

Posted by: sudama | November 23, 2005 7:02 PM

Just learned of Pinchbeck and his new book. Does anyone know if Wade Davis ("The Serpent & the Rainbow")and
pinchbeck have exchanged views? They seem to have tread the same paths.

Posted by: cribrink | July 29, 2006 11:36 AM

Post a comment

(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)