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Lessons from a Futuristic Classic: A Tale of Human Hubris and Hope

Explore the cyclical nature of humanity through a science fiction classic that challenges notions of progress and knowledge while highlighting societal structures and moral dilemmas. Can civilization break the pattern of self-destruction?

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Lessons from a Futuristic Classic: A Tale of Human Hubris and Hope

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Presentation Transcript

  1. What can we learn from history? That we don’t learn from history.

  2. Why is this a science fiction classic? • Humanity can survive the worst catastrophe, rebuild, and endlessly repeat the same mistakes • It asks questions of its reader that are not easy or comfortable to think about • What is the dark side of technology? • That there is no guarantee that knowledge will be well used, even if preserved by good men

  3. Part I:Is there hope for humanity? • Yes, when the first book ends, the monks are dedicated to preserving knowledge in the hopes that it will someday benefit someone • They faced constant danger in doing so. Why? • Tension between those who would preserve knowledge and those who would destroy it

  4. Part I: Societal Structure • Nomadic existence for society in Texarcana • New Rome (somewhere in the western US) • The Monastery is in the middle of the desert • The Pope’s Children, bands of genetically disfigured humans, roam the desert

  5. Part II: Hope Turns to Triumph • Tension between those who preserve knowledge and those who would use it • In the end, the abbey is recognized as the true source of ancient knowledge • The scientist, Thon Taddeo, gains knowledge from this source • But it is a pyrrhic victory

  6. Part II: Societal Structure • Mayor Hannigan of Texarcana tries to unite all of N. America • No moral consideration for various factions • Only the desire to play one power off of another

  7. Part III: Increased Tensions • The monks have remained consistent throughout the work as a kind of moral compass • But the invention of nuclear weapons causes mass destruction • Will the new colony near Alpha Centuri repeat the mistakes again?

  8. Part III: Societal Structure • The history of superpowers repeats itself • US faces off against another world superpower • Devastation occurs

  9. What did the scientist say to the monk? • “How can a great and wise civilization have destroyed itself so completely? • “Perhaps” says the monk, “by being materially great and materially wise and nothing else.”

  10. But is there another hope? • Yes, if you look closely at the book’s message • There are people in the book who do not simply restrict themselves to the search for money and power • If you put things in proper perspective, then all will be well

  11. The End • Who is Rachel? • Why does she resist baptism? • We don’t know if she represents human salvation

  12. Summary • What has not changed in the future? • There is still racism, poverty, illness, etc. • What is the price of civilization? • War is one of the consequences

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