There are historical turning points. In the last few centuries, electricity and science have replaced darkness and superstition. Poul Anderson conceptualizes people living on the further side of yet another major turning point:
"[Fenn's] education to date included the chronicle of wretchedness which was history until five or six hundred years ago - a bare half dozen lifetimes." (pp. 49-50)
He rehearses the list:
famine
disease
poverty
toil
environmental destruction
slavery
private abuse
rampant crime
inherited hatreds
sexual distortion and oppression
superstitious dreads
institutionalized governmental atrocities
war
regimentation
extortion
torture
"Inherited hatreds" are currently rampant.
Poul Anderson's thesis is that generations that have solved all our problems will find more problems and also potential solutions: Life Mothers; rebirth; near light speed spaceships. Terrans on Earth hear from Terrans on Mars who have heard from Lunarians who have heard from Proserpina...
Change continues, however slowly, despite institutionalized resistance to it.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
And I agree with Poul Anderson's basic point, which I believed should have been stressed more clearly here. That is, while our CURRENT problems might be either resolved or rendered irrelevant, OTHER problems and conflicts will arise.
Sean
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