Daniel Coffin describes the culture on Earth at the time when the Constitutionalist exiles had departed:
"'The culture was turning more and more from science and technology to mysticism and ceremony.'" (p. 138)
The only ambiguous term in Coffin's assessment is "mysticism" which can imply either mystification (bad) or contemplation (good) (in my opinion, of course). A well-rounded culture should value science, technology, contemplation and ceremony. Most people appreciate some kind of ceremony at least at a funeral. However, replacing science and technology with contemplation and ceremony would be disastrous especially in a world that needs to maintain its existing high technological level for sheer survival. We can not only hope for but also move towards a more well-rounded culture in the future. Sf can prepare its readers for the fact that the future will be different without predicting what it will be - except that it will also be different from what anyone has imagined.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
We see some of that mystification masquerading as "mysticism" in "Robin Hood's Barn," where Jan Svoboda was rightly infuriated by the balderdash being taught to his son by a hack teacher.
Ad astra! Sean
Instruction in meditation practices could be offered in addition to a secular education. Such instruction would have to be optional and it would be possible to discuss why individuals might find such practices beneficial.
Kaor, Paul!
That was not Commissioner Svoboda's intention. The tripe his agents were brainwashing children with was designed to goad the Constitutionalists so much they could be maneuvered into agreeing to being exiled to Rustum.
As for the rest meditation/contemplation is mostly best left to adults.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Of course that was not Svoboda's intention!
Of course meditation is mostly best left to adults!
Any interested children could be given an introduction with parental consent. The guy who runs our meditation group once told my daughter, "Since your dad is involved, it would be ok for you to come at any time."
Paul.
And he only said that because she had inquired.
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