In his debate with Elena, Dalgetty specifies two limitations. First, social forces are so great that the Institute could be overwhelmed before it can accomplish anything.This is the comparison with the engineer and the avalanche again. See Limits Of The New Sciences.
Secondly:
"'...there are plenty of things we still don't know. It will take decades, perhaps centuries, to work out a complete dynamics of man. We're one step beyond the politician's rule of thumb, but not up to the point where we can use slide rules. We have to feel our way.'" (VI, p. 138)
But "'...one step beyond the politician's rule of thumb...'" sounds like no distance whatsoever! In any case, John Searle argues that slide rules are impossible with society. See A Science Of Humanity.
Before long, I will reread The Snows Of Ganymede. From what I remember of that installment, the two limitations converge. Thus, the psychotechnicians are overwhelmed not just by great social forces but also by their inability to process all the incoming data.
The dichotomy between the study of society and of individual psychophysical organisms is highlighted when Dalgetty says that Tighe studies mass psychology whereas many of his colleagues focus on individual psychology and neurology. See Psychotechnic Theory Of Mind. By comparison, if one guy studies the expressiveness and symbolism in a painting whereas another focuses on the chemistry of individual pigments of paint, then how can these two understandings be synthesized?
Maybe less posts today than recently but let's see how it goes.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
And THE SNOWS OF GANYMEDE also shows the psychotechnicians becoming corrupted! Which to me, even at a time when Anderson was at his most "liberal" (in the American sense of the word), shows him feeling some skepticism about liberal optimism for "planning" and "education." Again, I refer you to his Afterword for THE PSYCHOTECHNIC LEAGUE (I wish that last word was "INSTITUTE").
Ad astra! Sean
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