59.What is the significance of the invention of the clock

59.What is the significance of the invention of the clock?
The development of civilization will produce new technologies, which in turn will promote the development of civilization. We all know that. Recently, I heard a wonderful example from Mr. Gu Heng's class.
You think, before the invention of the new technology of clocks and watches, our concept of time was a continuous "flow", and it is difficult to have the concept of time being divided. Of course, it's hard to come up with the idea of selling one's labor according to time.
Therefore, if I provide services to you, I usually can only pay according to the fruits of labor. For example, how many catties of grain and how many pieces of cloth are produced.
So what if you can't pay for the work product? Usually we can only do personal attachment, that is, sell the whole person to you. For example, I am the master of the county magistrate, and I am the teacher of the rich family.
In this way, a lot of intellectual labor is hard to get paid. This is an important reason for restricting the intellectual development of the ancients.
Later, with clocks and watches, we can divide the time according to the hour or even the minute, and intellectual labor can also be charged according to such a small scale.
Only in this way can intellectual activities be greatly developed. Of course, human civilization has made a big step forward.
钟表的发明有什么意义？
文明发展会产生新技术，反过来新技术也会促进文明发展。这个道理我们都懂。最近我听顾衡老师的课，才听到一个精彩的例子。
你想，在钟表这个新技术发明之前，我们对于时间的观念就是一个连续的“流”，很难有时间被分割的概念。那当然，也就很难产生按照时间来出售自己劳动的想法。
所以，我要是给你提供服务，通常只能按照劳动成果来付费。比如生产多少斤粮食，多少匹布。
那如果不能按劳动成果付费的怎么办呢？通常只能搞人身依附了，就是把整个人卖给你喽。比如我是这个县官的师爷，我是那个财主家的教书先生。
那如此一来，很多智力劳动就很难得到报酬。这是制约古人智力发展的一个重要原因。
而后来有了钟表，大家可以按小时甚至是分钟来划分时间，智力劳动也可以按照这么小的尺度来计费了。
那智力活动才能大发展啊，人类文明当然就前进了一大步啊。
重点词汇
new technology 新科技
concept of time 时间概念
Of course 当然，自然 ; 当然 ; 当然不
come up with 想出，提出 ; 设法拿出
according to 据 ; 按 ; 依照 ; 按照 ; 根据
For example 例如;比如
how many 多少
work product 工作成果