The Robotic Soul
"There is little doubt that atheism, agnosticism, and the denial of the other world are partially responsible for the rapid technological development which gave us, apart from exquisite instruments for mass destruction, various means to bridge time and space. . . Ortega y Gassets points out very adroitly the fact that the automobile is the very expression of our present acute feeling of mortality. . . If we were bodily immortal we would feel no need for technical gadgets saving time by conquering space."
Ah yes. He's right, and it makes me uneasy. I love those time-saving gadgets. If a man with a strong sense of immortality would feel no need for technical gadgets saving time by conquering space, what does that say about those of us who feel the need to save time with those technical gadgets? Every person is a bit different, I suppose, but looking into my heart at least, I believe it points to an insufficiently-developed awareness of eviternity.
