In Poul Anderson's Brain Wave, the future becomes better because everyone's intelligence increases. In Anderson's Twilight World, the future might become better because some influential people have learned from historical mistakes:
"'...remember what we said once, about leaving the old savage way of settling things, that never brings a settlement at all? We'd throw away a lesson our noses were rubbed in not three years ago.'" (p. 28)
"'...the only way to sanity - to survival - is to abandon class prejudice and race hate altogether, and work as individuals. We're all - well, Earthlings - and subclassification is deadly. we all have to live together, and might as well make the best of it.' Drummond smiled with little mirth. 'End of sermon.'
"'Yeah...yeah, I guess you're right, at that.'" (pp. 29-30)
For me, the only discordant note here was "...as individuals." That can mean "everyone for himself." But the passage as a whole means that we should cooperate as informed individuals. Subjects of a totalitarian state who work together only because they are told to work together cannot meet the challenge of the future.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
For me, however, the fact that "Drummond smiled with little mirth" shows us how, even in this very early work, Anderson gives us a hint of skepticism or caution about ideas he may have favored at that time. I certainly DON'T expect all humans beings to be either informed or to cooperate willingly with others.
Sean
Sean,
Of course Drummond also means that we should see each other as individuals, not as members of classes or races.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I agree. Minimal as that would be, it still would be a good start!
Sean
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