The culmination of "The Queen of Air and Darkness" points in so many different directions that I do not know which way to turn. Under the night sky, Barbro thinks of the stars not as measurable but as magical although she acknowledges that this is nonsense. However, Sherrinford responds:
"'Not at all...Emotionally, physics may be a worse nonsense. And in the end, you know, after a sufficient number of generations, thought follows feeling. Man is not at heart rational. He could stop believing the stories of science if those no longer felt right.'" (p. 205)
I think that we need to disentangle Sherrinford's response. Physics, like any science, is aimed at understanding, not at the emotions. Whereas some people are indeed awestruck by the physical universe, others seek their emotional fulfillment elsewhere. Thought follows feeling but we can understand and redirect our feelings. At least, we can begin to learn to... "Man is not at heart rational" sounds like that "old protean enemy" again. Is man at heart anything other than the ability to change his environment with hands and brain and to change himself in the process? We did not exist until our prehuman ancestors cooperated, communicated and manipulated their environment.
Men could stop accepting science? Yes, unfortunately. Sherrinford recognizes that such a lapse is possible although he would oppose it. Something far more dangerous is said by Neil Gaiman's character, Destruction:
"They are using reason as a tool.
"REASON.
"It is no more RELIABLE a tool than instinct, myth or dream.
"But it has the potential to be far more dangerous, for them."
-Neil Gaiman, The Sandman: Brief Lives (New York, 1994), Chapter 4, p. 19, panels 1-2.
Reason is potentially dangerous precisely because it is a more reliable tool than instinct, myth or dream for understanding and changing physical reality. The Rolandic natives want to control human beings by making them live in an illusion based on Terrestrial myths. Sherrinford responds:
"'...I believe in choosing one's destiny.'" (p. 229)
A valid response although it became a cliche in some Star Trek episodes.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree that reason, meaning or including as well logical thinking, can become very dangerous when misused for achieving irrational or evil ends. One of them, broadly speaking, the impossibility of achieving a perfect state or society. Two examples I've thought of from Anderson's works being "The High Ones" and "Eutopia," both of them featuring societies fatally flawed for different reasons.
Sean
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