Gwydion has not grass but psuedomoss.
How Different Populations Laugh
Namericans, raucously
Lochlanna, wolfishly
Gwydiona, gently and more frequently
There was also the earlier comparison of how the three populations work. See Three Approaches To Life.
Sf often compares two cultures. Poul Anderson was able to handle more than two.
How people laugh might seem trivial - in fact, it is trivial - but it tells us something. The raucousness and wolfishness of the Gwydiona have not ceased to exist but have gone somewhere but are covered up by talk of "God," the sub-rational passed off as the supra-rational. Raven has to deduce what is going on.
Is World War III starting? Is it becoming pointless to continue speculating about an extended future for mankind?
10 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
That pseudomoss was meant by Anderson to be analogous to our Terrestrial grass, with similar functions.
I do not think the war between Israel and Iran, which the latter started thru its Hamas catspaws on 10/7, will necessarily lead to a WW III. Because Iran is not a Great Power or backed by a Great Power willing to take risks for the thugocrats in Tehran.
The admirable precision and accuracy of Israel's devastating strikes on Iran could only have succeeded, in part, because of information passed to Israeli Intelligence by Iranians who hate the tyrannical regime in Tehran.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Do the israelis always strike with admirable precision and accuracy? How many countries have thugocrats?
Of course the present war will not necessarily lead to WW III! But have we not had enough of these conflicts between powers some of which do have nuclear weapons? All the responsibility for what happens is not just on one side. That attitude alone really would perpetuate conflicts forever!
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, Israel has been far more scrupulous and careful in its use of force than practically all other nations! And I know of not one single Muslim dominated country which can honestly be called democratic. Certainly nowhere as democratic as Israel!
We are always going to have wars and rumors of wars because human beings are like that, quarrelsome and prone to strife. Something to be managed, not eliminated. E.g., an Anglosphere led by the US might impose some kind of order/peace on the world.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Israel is bombarding, flattening and deliberately starving Gaza. I am not defending Muslim countries.
We are not always going to have wars. Weapons need not always be produced. An Anglosphere would be just another armed force. We need an Anthroposphere.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
False, you persistently ignore how the laws of war allows belligerents to attack any locations used by hostile forces. The Geneva/Hague conventions only prohibits signatories from targeting civilians. Israel has made strong efforts to minimize non-combatant casualties by giving them time to evacuate. It's also false to persistently claim Israel is starving the Gazans when it has allowed massive supplies to be shipped in. Btw, don't forget how the Hamas criminals has often looted those supplies!
You have not proved that someday there will never be wars, only vague hopes and wishful thinking. Weapons will continue to be produced because anything can become weapons, including one's bare hands.
There is never going to be an Anthroposphere, because humans don't think like that, they are tribalistic. Any unification of Earth will come about only because it was done by a specific power or group of allied powers. Any world state will also need to have a monopoly of the means of violence to be effective.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I have to go out. Don't start off with "False"! Can't we just discuss this? I think that it is a fact that Israel is doing what I say but I haven't got any more time now.
Paul.
I do not persistently ignore anything. We totally disagree. That is all.
I have given very definite arguments why wars can be unnecessary in future and the arms trade should be stopped.
Sean,
I have emailed 20 links about Israeli weaponization of starvation from different outlets. There are many more. You seem to read different media.
In an advanced technological society, with everything to live for, with nothing left to fight about, with no weapons left to fight with, instead of living life to the full when this has finally been made possible for everyone, people will instead attack each other with their bare hands for no reason whatsoever and without any provocation? Absolutely absurd. Do people do that now, attack total strangers for no discernible reason? There is always a reason or a motivation for muggings, riots etc and these can be eliminated in future.
Paul.
Sean,
Hamas are not mere criminals. They are freedom fighters who have committed atrocities but who nevertheless represent a dispossessed and oppressed population and are still undestroyed despite persistent bombardment. (Do I have to say that I do not support atrocities? I should not have to say this. In fact, I spoke out against them.)
When were massive supplies shipped in?
A state needs to monopolize means of violence while present conditions persist. I have seriously discussed how we can change our conditions. If you are asked to consider the implications of a changed society and you continue to think in terms of an unchanged society, then, yes, it follows from your premises that nothing will ever change - except that conditions already have changed and therefore can change further.
People are not just tribalistic. Many are universalistic. We have voluntary organizations that welcome refugees and help them to settle. Christian and Muslim women regularly meet to share cultures and exchange practical information like recipes. Churches, including your Church, are involved in this. My Anglican friend's church built a house for a refugee family. This movement seems to be leaving you behind. Don't try to keep us at the tribal level. Speak out against that.
Paul.
Post a Comment