tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post6354799133377559525..comments2024-03-29T09:09:24.834+00:00Comments on Poul Anderson Appreciation: Two Cogs Of EmpireKetlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588156788583883454noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-85592362068983593642017-05-31T14:56:30.341+01:002017-05-31T14:56:30.341+01:00Kaor, DAVID!
Now those were very interesting and ...Kaor, DAVID!<br /><br />Now those were very interesting and illuminating comments by Hal Clement! And they help to explain why we have strife, conflict, war, etc. And why the "ideal" state envisioned by St. Thomas More was called UTOPIA, "no place," by the book's author.<br /><br />And if this is what the human race is like, then we have to keep in mind that if any non human alien races exist and if they have Fallen, then they too will very likely feel THEIR rights are as valid as ours. Or more valid than ours, hence helping to explain the aggressive racism of the Merseian Roidhunate.<br /><br />I checked, and, alas, I only have the first two volumes of the anthology edited by Reginald Bretnor, THE FUTURE AT WAR, not including ORION'S SWORD.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-23972124776458364342017-05-31T12:35:17.550+01:002017-05-31T12:35:17.550+01:00Paul and Sean:
Hal Clement wrote an article, "...Paul and Sean:<br />Hal Clement wrote an article, "Chips On Distant Shoulders," published in *The Future At War: Orion's Sword*. An excerpt points out:<br />Getting rid of war, on the other hand, seems to me far more difficult [than FTL travel]. It demands at least one, and probably two, psychological developments radical enough to be called breakthroughs, and our progress in developing and utilizing the psychological sciences has so far been disappointing. <br /><br />The really necessary advance would involve some method of eliminating the almost universal human attitude that one’s own rights are as important as anyone else’s. <br /><br />Not MORE important. AS important. <br /><br />I am not saying that people shouldn’t feel that way, or don’t have a right to feel that way, or that it’s immoral or even unreasonably selfish. I simply say that unless and until it changes, conflicts of interest will continue to lead to violence in the name of right, freedom, and The People. What specific situation starts things off – the population of a landlocked country believing that it has the right to a seaport of its own, women believing that they have the same rights as men, or junkies believing that they have a right to a fix at public expense – is trivial beside the general principle that my right is as important as yours. If a way were actually discovered to alter this bit of human nature there would be screams against the dangers of psychological research; and if a government or some other group tried to apply the techniques, plenty of people (including me) would fight for the right to their own minds. <br /><br />Please note that death, destruction, and mayhem are not primary aims of war. They may be secondary ones, as when a cannibal tribe attacks its neighbors for meat, but more usually they are just inconvenient by-products. The aim and end of war is to IMPOSE ONE’S WILL ON AN OPPONENT.<br /><br />Unfortunately, imposing one’s will on another includes the situation in which YOUR will is merely that he not impose HIS on YOU. David Birrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08973889429164886381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-87581959125519977682017-05-29T09:12:02.689+01:002017-05-29T09:12:02.689+01:00Kaor, Paul!
Understood. And I don't think the...Kaor, Paul!<br /><br />Understood. And I don't think the human will ever "go beyond" imperialism, however that is defined. Because the state, large or small, whatever its form, is a necessity due to our fallen, imperfect human nature. So, it will never disappear till the Second Coming of Christ.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-68568977409408061482017-05-29T09:05:51.661+01:002017-05-29T09:05:51.661+01:00Sean,
No point! No objection to either of these gu...Sean,<br />No point! No objection to either of these guys in themselves. Just a hope that mankind will go beyond imperialism.<br />Paul.paulshackley2017@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704115766930975286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-6807360326855706482017-05-29T09:01:56.404+01:002017-05-29T09:01:56.404+01:00Kaor, Paul!
I don't quite see your objection ...Kaor, Paul!<br /><br />I don't quite see your objection or point here. If both the Imperial resident and the British governor were conscientious, solidly competent, and loyal, they (and the states which had enough decency to appoint decent men to these offices) should be commended, not condemned. It's my view that whatever form the state has its civil service will need such solid, competent, loyal officials. And it's more likely than not that the human race will always need people like the resident and governor.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.com