(That Galaxy cover image illustrates Anderson's "Short Novel," whose title has been changed from "To Build A World" to "Strange Bedfellows.")
The author's introduction to this story:
"Progress does get made, however slowly and with however many setbacks. It is the work of those who are too brave to despair. Our descendants may yet create a society more sane than any which has gone before. But will this keep them from insanities of their own?" (p. 168)
My comments:
Progress has been made, albeit slowly and against setbacks, but is now under threat.
Those too brave to despair are our hope.
Our descendants might create a saner society.
We have to question any future advances.
However, sometimes questions are rhetorical, i.e., really statements. If "...will this keep them from insanities of their own?" is rhetorical, then I disagree with the implied statement - that further insanities would necessarily be inevitable. On the other hand, on the face of it, Anderson is merely asking a question which is a valid starting point for an sf story.
As an aside, I am fascinated and frustrated by the ways in which communication can fail. I once asked my friend, Fran, a question, seeking information. Fran thought for a few seconds, then said, "I think you're right..." I was bewildered. I had not said anything. I had asked something. But he had interpreted my question as rhetorical, therefore as a statement, and I did not know what the statement was!
Back to Anderson's reference to progress, my summary of specifically human activities is as follows:
2 comments:
Progress is purely subjective, like morality. Electrochemical events in your brain, and nothing else.
I think that electrochemical events in a brain are objective because they can be scientifically detected and this puts them in the public realm. What is subjective is the experiences that are somehow caused by the electrochemical interactions.
I would say that the advance from earlier to later means of production is objective progress.
Post a Comment