Guthrie, looking across altiplano, sees "...alpenglow [which] tinged rosy the snowpeaks beyond." (p. 123)
He is almost shot in the head by a guerilla. If that had happened, then Guthrie's entire future existence, both embodied and download, would have been prevented. What are the consequences of killing a person? Does even a hypothetical omniscient being know all the alternative possibilities?
Guthrie wonders whether, instead of firing, fleeing and taking shelter in a cabana, he and his companion should have surrendered to the Maoists. No way. "Maoists" might be anyone, of course, but they could be fanatics who will shoot even each other for alleged ideological impurity. There were some real head cases in London a while back.
I discovered today that, in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, "Mao" means "the Peacock." See here.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree, regrettably, in times of war, there will always be some who have no regard for things like the Geneva Conventions on the laws of war. Because such persons will be either fanatics or utter brutes.
God, being GOD, would have to know all the infinite possible consequences from a man dying or living.
Again, you are using a term that makes no real sense to me, "social contradictions." People are simply DIFFERENT from each other, in abilities, inclinations, talents, character (good and bad), an so on. Anson Guthrie, because of what he was, saw opportunities and took chances, and also worked hard, all of which payed off. Real life examples, such as Bill Gates, one of the founders of Microsoft, comes to mind.
Sean
Sean,
But society is an interaction. The way it is is organized now means that many who work hard all their lives receive only enough to keep them alive.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And I put a lot of the reason for that on the rise and proliferation of the bureaucratic state since WW I. The taxes, demands, and burdens imposed by the state is a huge reason why so many have only a narrow margin. Reduce such taxes and demands, etc., and more people will have more funds.
Sean
Sean,
If employees paid lower taxes, then I suspect that market forces would forces wages and salaries down even lower.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And I see no problem with that as long as the corresponding prices for goods and services also dropped. As they would HAVE to do to be sold at all. NO point baking a loaf of bread if no one could buy it!
Sean
Post a Comment