Analysing politics in a novel is easier than analysing politics in the real world. But Poul Anderson makes his fictional politics seem very plausible, here as in Mirkheim. Flandry asks what he on Terra can find out. Very little, but there is a development in the following chapter. Magnusson offers to negotiate with Emperor Gerhart. When negotiations do open, Flandry will be able to go as part of the team. That will happen in CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. Coping with a negotiator as alert as Flandry would be almost like coping with a telepath.
Meanwhile, several academics argue that, since Merseians want peace and would probably prefer Magnusson as Terran Emperor, they will not take any action that would look like taking advantage of the Terran civil war.
Targovi comments:
"'Assuredly that is what learned academics would say.'" (p. 328)
Again with the anti-academic stuff. It certainly sounds as though as there is a well-oiled pro-Merseian propaganda machine inside the Empire. However, there would also be xenophobes opposed to the greenskins/gatortails on principle and some academics trying to do the job of academics, find out the truth.
13 comments:
Well, that depends on whether there -is- any such thing as "truth" in that sense. As opposed to 'accurate data'. Data only becomes meaningful in a human sense by -interpretation-.
As the philosopher said, 'Es gibt keine Tatsachen, nur Interpretationen.' There are no facts, only interpretations.
Kaor, Paul!
And the interpretation of the data and facts known by Flandry and Targovi fitted REALITIES and justified their contempt for "learned academics" desperate to appease Merseia.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I don't think contempt helps much but we should certainly strongly disagree with and argue against those who try to appease dictators. I met a woman who was anti-American, therefore pro-Putin, even during the current war. I tied to show her that there are more than two points of view.
Paul.
Truth is a limit that we can approach but not reach, like to speed of light.
Kaor, Paul!
Contempt is regrettable, but I believe some people can rightly earn that scorn if their views and policy preferences do not match the known data and facts. All he more so if false to facts views and policies endangers one's people.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Remember the distinction between facts and interpretations.
Paul.
Years ago, I was at a public meeting where a questioner challenged the speaker about the way that the latter's comrades had conducted himself on a then recent demonstration. The speaker's response began with a question: "Were you at that demonstration?" After some reluctance and hesitation, the questioner answered, "No." Far from trying to make any capital out of this, the speaker continued, "Well, neither was I so we are both dependent on accounts that we have received from other people and what I have heard was..."
I thought that that was a perfect response: trying to get at the facts while being clear about the difference between what has been said by different people etc.
themselves
Kaor, Paul!
And what has that got to do, sticking to Anderson's Technic history, with how many people inside the Empire were UNWILLING to accept the fact of Merseia's unrelenting hostility? Including many "learned academics."
However, not all Imperial academics were fools and dupes. John Ridenour, whom we see in ENSIGN FLANDRY and "Outpost of Empire," was a scholar who had no illusions about Merseia and her catpaws.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I was addressing the concept of "facts."
In the Technic History, it is clearly a fact that the Roidhunate is an implacable enemy with no interest in peace and that it has to be treated as such. Military targets should have been hit after Chereion was eliminated.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
And the point I'm trying is that in our real world too many "intellectuals" in the West pooh poohed the similar threat posed by the USSR. That too is a fact!
Agreed, what you said about Merseia.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Yes but some didn't including some on the left!
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Granted, some leftists were anti-Comunists, such as Clement Attlee.
Ad astra! Sean
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