A Planetary Engineer comments:
"'The psychodynamic techniques are only methods for attaining given ends. They say nothing about the desirability of any aim. If the Institute people have acquired an old-fashioned power hunger, they'll rationalize it to themselves, but they'll be as dangerous as any would-be conqueror.'" (VI, p. 184)
Slow down. Psychodynamic science applies to society and to individuals. When applied to individuals, it involves understanding and enhancing the self psychophysically, as shown in "The Sensitive Man." Psychodynamics has to start with both the why and the how of the most basic aims of human existence. There is no reason to exist but, since we do exist, and if we want to continue to exist, then what is the most effective way to do this? Psychodynamicists are bound to understand that a rationalized power-drive is a hindrance. But maybe any mere techniques can be corrupted? That was the point of the earlier comparison of the Institute with the Church.
4 comments:
Note that we are disproportionately descended from -successful- male power-seekers. This is easier for males, much easier -- Elizabeth I was a tremendously successful Queen of England and left no direct descendants; Genghis Khan is the ancestor of about 10% of East Asia.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
That's easy to understand. A male can hypothetically impregnate one thousand women fairly quickly--but a woman can (unless she has twins) have only one child at a time, with pregnancy lasting nine months.
And Elizabeth I could have tried to have children, by marrying a man she thought suitable.
Ad astra! Sean
Not and keep her grip on power, she couldn't.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
But one of the first duties of any monarch is to at least try to provide for the succession. I still don't think it would have been impossible for Elizabeth to find a suitable husband. And, much as I dislike her, I'm also confident she would have kept power firmly in her hands.
Also, marrying would have gotten Parliament off her back! For at least 10 years after becoming queen, the politicians kept pressuring Elizabeth to marry.
Ad astra! Sean
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