Week 1 History Essay

How might holding a cyclical view of time (as opposed to a linear one where time has a beginning, a middle, and an end) make someone pessimistic about the future?

                  A person who has a cyclical view of time might make different choices for their life. For example, if there is a famine or drought every 100 years, this might make a person pessimistic about having children or working harder to get an education or a better job. They may decide doing these kinds of things to make their life better is not worth it, because life will be hard for either themselves or their children during the years of famine or drought.

Alternatively, explain how a person’s worldview can help increase or decrease their capital.

                   A person who has a cyclical worldview has a choice to either be pessimistic or optimistic about their future. They can increase their capital to be able to defend or prepare themselves and their family for anything bad or dangerous in the future. This can make them want to work harder to make sure they are ready for what is coming. Or a person can just say, “Why bother,” and give up working hard to prepare. In the example of a drought or a famine, an optimistic person would learn different things to be able to grow crops that do not need much water, or even store up food and supplies to take care of their family during the hard times.