Mathematical philosophy, a study of fate and freedom; lectures for educated laymen, by Cassius J. Keyser.

480 MATHEMATICAL PHILOSOPHY
covery of the atomic constitution of matter, he discovers
the electronic constitution of atoms. Such is the familiar
record-improvement of old things, invention of new
ones-Progress. Why? Again the answer is obvious:
the mind of man, unlike animal "mind," is such that its
power to achieve is reinforced by past achievement. As
in the case of the beaver, so in that of man, the successor's
time is overlapped by the predecessor's time for the latter
time continues its presence as an essential factor in the
old achievement, which endures; but,-and this the point,
-in man's case, unlike the beaver's, the old-time factor
is not merely present, it works; it is not as dead capital,
bearing no interest, and ultimately perishing-it is living
capital bearing interest not only but interest perpetually
compounded at an ever-increasing rate. And the interest
is growing wealth,-material and spiritual wealth,-not
merely physical conveniences but instruments of power,
understanding, intelligence, knowledge and skill, beautiful arts, science, philosophy, wisdom, freedom-in a
word, Civilization.
That great process,-involving some subtle alchemy
that we do not understand,-by which the time-factor,
embodied in things accomplished, perpetually reinforces
more and more the achieving potency of the human mind,
-the process by which mysterious Time thus continually
and increasingly augments the civilizing energy of the
world,-the process by which the evolution of civilization
involves the storing up or involution of time,-it is that
mighty process which Korzybski happily designates by
the term, Time-binding. The term will recur frequently
in our discussion, and so I recommend that you dwell
upon its meaning as given until you have seized it firmly.
It is because time-binding pQwer is not only peculiar to