-copied from here.
Sean Brooks refers to Poul Anderson and SM Stirling. We find the same point made in The Mote In God's Eye (London, 1979) by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.
All stand when the Imperial Viceroy enters the Council Chamber. Captain Blaine reflects that the Emperor and his Viceroy are only men:
"But they held responsibility for the destiny of the human race...someone had to act in the name of mankind...No, the ceremonial entrance wasn't exaggerated. Men who held that kind of power should be reminded of it." (p. 76)
I hope for a less top-down form of social organization in the future but agree that ceremony is a way to mark and enact important events. Niven and Pournelle with their Empire of Man, and Anderson with his Terran Empire, project ancient forms into a technological future. As society changes, we will find new ways to express what is important.
12 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Flattering, that you quoted me! But, I don't understand your comment hoping "...for a less top-down form of social organization in the future." My belief is that, no matter what the form of a state, how large or small it is, or how a leader comes to power under whatsoever title, there still has to be SOMEONE with the final authority. Where, as US President Truman said: "the buck stops here."
That does not mean the King, President, Prime Minister, or Emperor has to have total and absolute authority. Such a leader might well have to consult with advisers, legislative bodies, or keep in mind the wishes of powerful vested interests.
Sean
Sean,
At the very least, I mean no future Emperors! But, yes, I think that, with technology, education, changed social conditions and a qualitatively different upbringing, humanity will be capable of far greater creativity and collective decision-making ability than it has yet evidenced. We have not fallen but are rising - I think. (Just one of our perennial disagreements.)
Paul.
Paul:
Contrary to Niven/Pournelle, I think ceremonial should be cut to the minimum except when intended to overawe less-cultured locals. Men (and women) who hold that kind of power should instead be admonished, "Remember, thou art mortal."
Piper's *Space Viking* showed some of this. When Duke Angus first made himself King of Gram, he was quite informal and friendly in his private communications with main character Lucas Trask. But then Angus' personality began to deteriorate, power going to his head (possibly combined with hereditary mental problems; "the bad blood of Blackcliffe") and he became more and more ceremonial....
"When they had all seated themselves at a large oval table, Harkaman drew his pistol and used the butt for a gavel.
'Lord Trask, will you deal with these people directly?' he asked, stiffly formal."
(Negotiating with the locals on an "almost-civilized" planet.)
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, unfortunately, this is one of our disagreements. We ARE fallen but may rise technologically, etc. But, our flawed and corrupted human nature means all of our socio-political arrangements will be flawed or imperfect. And some will be grotesquely evil, like Stirling's Domination. And Poul Anderson agreed with me when I raised that point with him.
Nor do I think human beings will EVER find "collective decision-making" ever practical.
Sean
Kaor, Paul!
But there used to be, till historically recent times, rites like the one you mentioned in the first paragraph. Before Paul VI abolished the use of coronations a newly crowned pope would be confronted by a cowled monk who burned a length of waxed hemp before him saying: "Holy Father, thus passes the glory of the world."
And I still disagree with you about ceremonial. While we should avoid the exaggerated extremes used by the Western and Eastern Roman Emperors, ceremonial still inculcates a proper respect for an office and a reminder of the responsibility going with power.
Alas, I've not read Pipe's "Space Viking." But it seems to me that real diplomacy includes things like the implied threat or reminder of force being possible and taking care not to cause needless offense.
Sean
Sean,
Have you seen David's comment below?
Paul.
Sic transit gloria mundi!
Apologies, David! I should have addressed my comment here to you, not Paul.
Sean
Kaor, Paul!
Exactly, Latin would be used at Papal coronations. I should have used the Latin form. (Smiles)
Sean
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, I did, and commented on it, despite incorrectly addressing you, not David. I tried to correct my mistake.
Sean
I need to correct myself a bit here. Paul VI did not exactly "abolish" Papal coronations. Because he could not bind his successors on such matters. Rather, John Paul I chose not to be crowned, and this was continued by JP II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. All that was said by JP II in the law he promulgated regulating Papal elections was that it was up to succeeding popes to decide if they wished to be crowned.
So, while it seems unlikely, given the repeated precedent of succeeding popes declining a coronation, that we will see that ceremony--it might still come back into use.
Sean
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