Causes Of The Humanist Revolution

I argued here and here that mass technological unemployment would not suffice to explain a Revolution capable of overthrowing the utopian economy of the Solar Union. Probably when the Humanist conspirator comes on-stage in "Holmgang," he will explain his cause more fully but I have not reread that far yet. However, I remembered that The Snows Of Ganymede (New York, 1954) had included a relevant passage. In fact, this passage identifies three threads:

(i) "...a deep cultural resistance in a majority of Earth's population..." (Chapter 5, p. 49) to the scientific remaking of mankind. Such a remaking:

"...involved the scrapping of traditions which had existed since prehuman times. In many ways, it went against animal instinct..." (ibid.)

Traditions from prehuman times? I think that our oldest traditions go back a few thousand years at most. All human society goes against animal instinct. We neither fight nor flee but find other responses.

Continuing this point, Anderson says that "...peoples without the technological bias of the West..." (ibid.) were prepared to change so far and no further. This problem was exacerbated when Asia became the economic center.

(ii) "...the bulk of humanity simply was not fitted to absorb the new attitudes." (ibid.) But is this not point (i) in different words?

(iii) Mass unemployment.

On top of all this, the balance of military power shifted from centralized government to small groups when cheap energy sources for weapons became generally available. Thus, given motives for dissent, technology worked against the system. And exposure of Psychotechnic Institute malpractices fanned the flames.