James Nicoll wrote:
Space Skimmer by David Gerrold
Who killed the empire? More importantly, what does it take to get
men to process their emotions?
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/more
The book also led me to contemplate a question about
social organization: what are empires for? What good
do they do? Who do they do it for?
Human herd instinct culminates in empires. The instinct's implicit irrationalism is similar to drunken behavior. Both defy rationalization.
This is where WAR AND PEACE comes in handy. Tolstoy more or less
advises against overthinking [1] cultural currents. Instead, it's
imperative to accept and adapt to an ambiguous social reality as it
evolves from moment to moment. CITADEL by Budrys says it this way:
"Ud Klavan," he said, "you are quite right. We are a race of
maniacs. And that is why Earthmen rule the galaxy. For our
treaties are not binding, and our promises are worthless. Our
government does not represent our people. It represents our
people as they once were. The delay in the democratic process
is such that the treaty signed today fulfills the promise of
yesterday-but today the Body Politic has formed a new opinion,
is following a new logic which is completely at variance with
that of yesterday. An Earthman's promise-expressed in words or
deeds-is good only at the instant he makes it. A second later,
new factors have entered into the total circumstances, and a
new chain of logic has formed in his head-to be altered again,
a few seconds later."
Note.
[1] Something in my manner may move proximate people to mention
"overthink" on occasion as they converse with me.
--
Don.......My cat's )\._.,--....,'``. veritas _|_ telltale tall tail /, _.. \ _\ (`._ ,. liberabit |
tells tall tales.. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.' vos |
--- PyGate Linux v1.5.1
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)