Summary

The web content presents a contemplative essay on the nature of existence, progress, and the human condition amidst the backdrop of historical and contemporary challenges.

Abstract

The essay titled "This Recurring Dream" delves into a philosophical inquiry about the essence of life and the possibility that what we experience now might be the ultimate reality. It questions the linear trajectory of human evolution, suggesting that perhaps our existence is more akin to the ever-changing and elusive nature of a cloud or the mythical transformations depicted in Ovid's Metamorphoses. The author, Carlo Zeno, challenges the notion of constant progress, pointing out the cyclical nature of history and human behavior, as evidenced by our repeated mistakes and the slow pace of our neuro-evolution. Amidst the current global crises, including climate change, nuclear threats, and social inequalities, the piece invites readers to ponder the meaning of life in its current form, rather than fixating on an illusory next stage.

Opinions

The author posits that the next stage of human evolution might not be a tangible step forward but rather a continuous transformation akin to mythical metamorphoses.
There is skepticism about the idea of perpetual progress, with the author suggesting that the concept of linear evolution is an illusion, much like the elusive nature of Maya's smile or Buddha's dreams.
The essay implies that human history is marked by repetition and stagnation rather than consistent advancement, as evidenced by our ongoing conflicts and slow neurological development.
The piece questions whether the current state of the world, with all its turmoil and suffering, is the only reality we have, and if so, what that means for the search for meaning in life.
The author seems to critique the human tendency to avoid confronting the possibility that our current existence might be all there is, preferring to believe in the promise of something better around the corner.
Carlo Zeno expresses a sense of urgency to acknowledge and address the pressing global issues of our time, rather than waiting for a hypothetical next stage that may never come.

This Recurring Dream

A philosophical inquiry

What if this is it?

On our way to something, incomplete, always struggling towards the intangible…

What if the next stage of our evolution is a changing cloud,

like that elusive god, Proteus, or something out of Ovid’s Metamorphosis,

as unattainable as it is intangible —

one of Maya’s illusive Mona Lisa-like smiles, Buddha’s dreams or nightmares

an idea you had yesterday, a perfect triangle that only exists in geometry books, a painting on the wall

what if this painful body, this cramped apartment, this stressful job in this armed and nuclear world is all that there is?

what then?

we won’t entertain such thoughts, we will continue to believe there is something, anything, just around the corner

a logical step up on a linear ladder — always upward, always onward

as these hells we find ourselves in are only temporary situations

pit stops

between one era and another era

say, from the Tang dynasty to those Machiavellian Medicis

or maybe, from Solomon’s reign to the aging Biden and Xi Jinping

in only the blink of an eye

has the brain really evolved in 5,000 years? neuroscientists say no, we are notoriously

slow

and do not our wars prove it?

we make the same mistakes again and again and again

like Mircea Eliade’s Eternal Return

like the four seasons, or orbiting planets —

are they on their way to something? are they really evolving?

or is this all that there is? this tricky predicament our globe finds itself in

amidst climate change and nuclear arms’ race

rampant wealth inequality, pandemics and diseases,

this wild world of pain and suspect pleasure

if this is all that there is, what is its meaning?

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