"'Solar civilization is based on the individual as a unit, not the family or clan or state or anything else...'" (pp. 67-68)
That suits me fine. Someone I met at University pointed out that the progression from Judaism to Catholicism to Protestantism to secularism is a consistent move away from family towards individuality. I am happy to live at the secularist end of that spectrum. Relationships with other family members are good but our surname is not something to be perpetuated and we now have extended/overlapping families. (Incidentally, the Bible progresses from a covenant with a people towards covenants with individuals.)
Trevelyan Micah, the Solarian, contrasts his individualistic civilization with the family-based society of the Nomads where it will "'...mean a good deal in time...'" (p. 67) that Sean and his Lorinyan partner, Ilaloa, are unable to have children. They are of different species. At the end of Anderson's Technic History, a planetary population has become a distinct species, i.e., has ceased to be inter-fertile with mainstream humanity, and this means a very great deal to Daven Laure - now unable to marry Graydal whom he has met during his most recent mission.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
But the atomized individual is not Anderson's ideal! He makes it plain thru out his works that he believes in the necessity of the family as the necessary, basic social unit of human beings and their societies. And he also respects how religious faith gives meaning and purpose to many, many people's lives.
So I do not agree that atheist/agnostic atomized secularist individualism is the best set up for mankind.
It would be more accurate to say the Bible progresses from God's covenant with a single people to that covenant ending with salvation being offered to all mankind.*
Ad astra! Sean
*And possibly to non human aliens on other worlds.
I too doubt the viability of the radical individualism of that civilization. Too bloodless, and unlikely to produce the strong bonds and sense of social obligation that a working society needs.
One of the distinguishing characteristics (and advantages) of the modern Western nation-state is that it combines large scale with the intense emotional bonds and sense of identity of a clan/tribe/city-state.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Exactly! And I would not be surprised if the "bloodless individualism" of the Stellar Union contributed to Anderson's dissatisfaction with the Psychotechnic series.
I agree with your second paragraph as well. Even something as huge as the Terran Empire could command some of that intense sense of social obligation and identification.
Ad astra! Sean
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