I have a lot of sympathy for the Psychotechnic Institute in the early phase of Poul Anderson's first future history series, particularly as it is shown in "The Sensitive Man." The Institute tries to guide mankind towards sanity, both social and individual. This cannot be done either by force or by manipulation. It requires training, education, example, cultural influence and publicly accountable government policies. And it fails, overwhelmed by events and overthrown in a "Humanist" revolution. But the science of psychotechnics flourishes later in this timeline.
The two halves of the psychotechnic project exist on "Earth Real," so to call it. Many people meditate. Many participate in social movements. Some do both. But not many try to combine the two projects in a single organization! I attend two different meetings every week.
It is good that these issues are discussed by some characters in one of Anderson's eight future histories. Readers can engage in the discussion. Apparently, Anderson's views changed during his writing career. He tells us this in an Author's Note at the end of The Psychotechnic League so I am not merely deducing the author's views by interpreting the texts, an inexact science at best!
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Exactly, Anderson came to disbelieve in absurdities like predictive sciences of society. Real human beings and real histories are too chaotic and contingent to be predictable. At most broad patterns spread out over generations might be seen. Might!
No one in 1914 could have possibly predicted what would result from the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand!
Ad astra! Sean
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