Mechanical clocks are composed of gear assemblies primarily. Together, these gears distribute potential energy in appropriate amounts to specific dials. So, one may ask the question, are the gears as important as the purpose they serve?
Surely, each gear cannot be as important as the machine they comprise. For the machine serves a purpose to a human being, while the components exist only to serve the machine; however, remove the notion of the surrounding machine and you are left with an array of varied objects corresponding with each other, ostensibly for no reason. I cannot help but be reminded of humanity. Despite the lack of perspective or clear directive, human beings exist, suffer, and thrive, toiling until their lifespan abruptly ends. They create massive wonders and horrendous atrocities all in the name of a machine they cannot prove exists. Peculiar, to say the least.
Many humans adopt the philosophy that if our perspective was able to expand, we would become very aware of the clock within which we reside and operate; these are people of faith. Others deny the presence of a clock, for they cannot see it. They manufacture reasons for why they are slave to their own biology and the intangible forces applied by society; they do not wish to believe that they have no agency. Can’t say I blame them for that one.
It is, however, important to remember that a clock ceases to exist without the behavior of its inner mechanisms. The behavior of the components is the behavior of the clock; as above, so below.
One cannot dispute the importance the clock, of keeping time, but as I continue to exist, I cannot help but aspire for automation. Historically human beings have operated within our own systems, serving positions necessary for the functioning of the lives of others; however, we are destined to observe and prosper from the mechanism we have created, not serve it. Through automation, the joy of the human experience is preserved at the expense of the material. Though the Earth is far from being dead, it just seems more ethical to make gears out of brass instead of flesh.
