Sunday 21 February 2016

What Is A Weapon? II

One character argues that collective consciousness is necessary to unite humanity against extragalactic invaders but why should beings capable of intergalactic travel invade? As Alan Moore’s character, Skizz, says:

“When technology…has reached…a certain level…weapons are redundant. When you already have…all that you need, then…why fight?”

-copied from here

I have copied this passage from the Science Fiction blog in order to back up the point about technology and weapons. Skizz also says, although I am not about to look up the reference at this time of night, that his people have instruments that militaristic Earthmen would regard as weapons.

My point here was that I thought that Alan Moore displayed greater insight than Isaac Asimov. Moore, Niven and Anderson all make observations that break down the distinction between technologies designed to be used as weapons and technologies powerful enough to be used as weapons even though there intended purpose was, e.g., transport. Niven makes this point with both a car and a spaceship. Pretty smart stuff. 

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

But Alan Moore misses what seems an obvious point: not all races may be satisfied with what they have. And it does not matter how illogical that might seem. The DISSATISFACTION alone will bring about conflict. Also, as Poul Anderson has pointed out more than once, if two races both desire the same kinds of things that too will bring about conflict.

Sean