Ouroboros; or, the mechanical extension of mankind

A sweeping meditation traces humanity’s restless drive to outrun the ancient curse of labor, beginning with the mythic loss of Eden and the age‑old prayer for boundless abundance. The narrator shows how early hopes of a painless paradise—whether imagined in distant “golden lands” or promised by alchemical transmutation—sparked voyages of discovery, the rise of physical science, and the relentless birth of machines.

From simple ploughs to soaring aircraft, each invention is portrayed as a double‑edged sword: a bold effort to stretch human limits, yet a reminder that the earth’s fertility remains finite. The work asks whether our mechanical extensions truly liberate us or simply tighten the knot of toil, inviting listeners to reflect on the paradox of progress and the lingering echo of the serpent that once swallowed its own tail.