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We recently read The Tyranny of the Clock ( http://www.spunk.org/texts/writers/woodcock/sp001734.html) but we think it didn't go far enough.
Let's talk about calendars.
Let's talk about calendars.
Humans always knew how to live on nature's time. They always knew when to hunt, when to migrate, and when to prepare for winter.
Even with agriculture and domestication of crops and animals, they also knew when to plant and when to harvest.
No one needed a calendar to survive.
Even with agriculture and domestication of crops and animals, they also knew when to plant and when to harvest.
No one needed a calendar to survive.
So why was the calendar invented?
It was not invented for or by the average farmer - too much mathematics is required for it.
It was invented by the decree of the high courts.
It was invented so that the king can control and appropriate the farmers.
It was not invented for or by the average farmer - too much mathematics is required for it.
It was invented by the decree of the high courts.
It was invented so that the king can control and appropriate the farmers.
In ancient China, esp. before accurate calendars were invented, the royal astronomer was one of the most prestigious posts in the court. Their ability to accurately read the night sky and predict seasonal changes was crucial to the success and longevity of a state.
It also led to superstition in the form of astrology, where they were tasked to predict social changes by observing the sky, which may or may not have resulted in the execution of some good astronomers/mathematicians.
Fun fact: ancient China did not use the concept of a "week" - it originated in the west. Instead, the unit between a day and a month is called 旬 (Xun), which is 10 days. A month is then split into 上旬 (Upper Xun), 中旬 (Middle Xun) and 下旬 (Lower Xun)
Similar to the invention of the mechanical clock mentioned in the article, the invention of the calendar completely changed the behavior of the average person.
The human society is so accustomed to it that if feels "natural" to organize everything by the calendar.
The human society is so accustomed to it that if feels "natural" to organize everything by the calendar.
But calendars exist to serve and maintain the hierarchical state at the expense of the oppressed.
So next time when someone tells you something needs to be done by the end of a week or a month, be mindful what the idea is based on.
So next time when someone tells you something needs to be done by the end of a week or a month, be mindful what the idea is based on.
