"It is not good for a society when most of its citizens have no vested interested in its smooth operation. The atmosphere of restlessness and despair tainted even the leaders." (p. 177)
But most of the citizens do have a very strong vested interest in the smooth operation of society as described here. They would (rightly) kick off if their citizen's allowance were to be threatened but we are told that that is not about to happen. Some will be restless but not all and later generations growing up in these historically novel conditions will never have experienced anything different. Provided that education, entertainment and opportunities for travel and for physical and mental activity of every kind are either free or affordable as well as (and this is important) full participation in social decision-making, then who is going to say, "We want a return to the Dark Ages of scarcity and economically obligatory drudgery?" If there are such people, then surely a special enclave can be created just for them? - the Savior with the Time Machine.
However, Humanism arises to oppose psychotechnics.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Except I don't this kind of placid society where all basic material needs were met either free or at very low costs would satisfy everybody. I think you persistently overlook how the restless, frustrated, ambitious, or even criminal types will be happy with this rather boring kind of civilization.
And what does having some role in "social decision making" MEAN or matter if all they do is rubber stamp the "advice" of the Psychotechnic "experts"? A politics without some kind of CONFLICT is not going to interest many. Which fewer and fewer bothering to take any interest in "social decision making."
Ad astra! Sean
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