Change

There are times in history when things visibly change for the better and people know and participate. See here. I was reminded of this by writing about how easily the Chinese regime would be overthrown by access to certain "...new mental disciplines..." (see Ordinary Orthians) and am currently reading about another such historical period.

Poul Anderson conveys this sense of epochal change in Brain Wave. Intelligence increases. People become bored with their jobs and pursue new interests. Some continue their work because they see that it is necessary - but only until it can be automated. Others take on the role of managing society but only until such time as society has gone beyond the need for management. Conspirators who try to inhibit intelligence and to restore humanity to its previous low IQ levels are easily detected and apprehended. Increased intelligence enables reason to overcome instinct. Most people leave Earth. (That is the American sf symbol for freedom and transcendence.)

I believe that we are working towards something like this but not on any known time-scale and not with any guarantee of success - except insofar as some individuals realize their insights here and now.