Man and the Stars
Modern civilization has brought countless benefits—some of which would have seemed like science fiction to people from the past, even to those living just 15 or 20 years ago. At the same time, new ironies emerge in this era. Instead of inspiring us and opening new horizons, today’s trends increasingly close us off from one another and nurture fears of real social contact. Our gaze is directed downward: once we would stare thoughtfully at the asphalt beneath our feet while pondering an uncertain future; today we stare, captivated, at the colorful screens of our smartphones. That’s what they’re called now—no longer just “mobiles.” Imagine now a moment several thousand years ago: no streetlights, no city crowds, just you and nature. Blessed silence, surrounded by sounds you can only hear in the wild. It’s night, the sky flooded with stars—something unimaginable today in cities, or even their outskirts. Just you, nature, a few scattered people, houses far in the distance. You feel the...