"...Alori culture...had little use for the aggressive individual; nevertheless, each individual was fully developed, very much himself, free to choose his own endeavor within the pattern." (p. 157)
This I agree with. Individuality can and should be developed, need not and should not be aggressive. There is something wrong with our culture. In Anderson's text, denial of aggressive individuality is followed by the statement that nevertheless individuals are developed. It is as if denial of aggressive individuality had implied denial of individuality.
"...grief was part of living." (p. 158)
Agreed.
"In its own way, it was as scientific a culture as Sol's." (ibid.)
But how many "ways" are viable in science? The Alori are awkward with machines, cannot understand radio transceivers, fly captured spaceships by rule of thumb, have only a vague idea of atoms and none of nuclei and find general field theory repellent. General field theory explains certain phenomena. If the Alori can explain those same phenomena as well or better in a different "way," then fine. Otherwise, their culture cannot be described as "scientific."
Trevelyan's verdict:
"'If they don't think they can stand competition,...their own philosophy ought to tell them their way of life is unfit and should go under.'" (ibid.)
Agreed.
He adds that the Alori should be able to take competition. The Stellar Union would willingly buy some of their knowledge and, in any case, planetary systems can be made self-sufficient. But the Alori have become fanatics.
(Today was busy: one public event and two social events. Let us celebrate human cultures.)
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I have to disagree with your disapproval of aggressiveness. In its benign forms "aggressiveness" is merely the will, drive, or urge an individual has in order to succeed in whatever field he chooses. Michelangelo would never have become one of the towering masters of painting and sculpture he was without first having plenty of aggressiveness.
And Elon Musk would not now be plausibly aspiring to found a colony on Mars without first aggressively overcoming a host of obstacles and refusing to be cowed by derision.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
We are obviously using the word,"aggression," in different senses.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Of course! Because that work has different meanings. I did say in my first comment here that "aggressiveness" can have benign forms.
I can't see placidly (or complacent?) peaceful people ever being able to achieve much without some kind of drive, passion or "aggressiveness." The peaceful but decadent last humans we see in GENESIS being the example I thought of.
Ad astra! Sean
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