Modernity, Gaming, Flowers for Algernon

[tcpip]

Have been struggling for a few days with an article that I'm planning to submit to the Journal of Evolution and Technology. My working hypothesis takes aim the classic sociological arguments of Marx and Weber who, respectively, argued that the transformation from feudalism to capitalism (or traditional to modern society, if you like) was due to either changes in the productive forces or changes to the mode of consciousness. This 'chicken-or-egg' scenario has been part of a debate within social theory for the better part of a hundred years. My preferred option, which combines both, is that it was specifically the introduction of movable type press with an alphabetic script that initiated the successful change. My argument is reformative heresies would not be able to spread without these conditions, and that other technologies (seafaring, gunpowder etc) were either not unique nor critical for the social transformation. I am very interested in alternative ideas that readers may have on this matter.

Thursday night was a session of Masks of Nyarlathotep where the PCs made use of one of the plot exploits in the game, using a medium character to summon back the spirit of the McGuffin character, Jackson Elias, in a seance scene which included some revelation of what was being planned (the opening of the gate), when it was going to happen (the solar eclipse), and where (Kenya, Australia, and China). Turning the volume up to eleven in the HeroQuest Glorantha pbem game, the Red Moon has disappeared (and Harajallenburg has been taken over by drunk trollkin). I am also in the process of putting up a great number of GURPS books up for sale on the RPG Review store for those interested in that game system and will be submitting reviews for two books I received and read this week Never Unprepared and Odyessey. My initial thoughts is they are useful, but surprisingly (given that they make a point of an author being experienced in the field) lack as much project management input as I thought would be present.

Daniel Keyes, author of Flowers for Algernon, has recently died. I found myself quite affected by this, and found myself engaging in some soul-searching for the reasons. Flowers is, of course, quite a brilliant short-story and book in that genre of "contemporary science fiction". It is extremely well-written in its relevant style, and with great secondary thematic content and claims for people with an interest in artificial intelligence, neurology, and education (artificially-induced intelligence deteriorates at a rate of time directly proportional to the quantity of the increase). There is an obvious appeal for rodent fanciers as well; as a youngster shortly before I first read the story, I had pet mice, as an adult I have graduated from mus minimus to mus maximus. What is especially moving however about the story is that despite the rise and fall of Charlie Gordon's intelligence is that he remains a well-meaning, kind, and good person. The story is a reminder of humility for those who are intelligent, and an appeal to use one's intellect for good. If Charlie Gordon can be a good person what the hell is stopping you? That is, to me, the real genuis in the tale. PS: please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard

Comments

[leo-sosnine.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is brilliant. And after all, we are all in pretty much the same position as Charlie, because we are dumb when we are young, then we are excited about discovering cool things, then we feel ourselves almost almighty, then we realize that we actually move towards the end and we try to think this through and fight it, then we die. If there are some extraterrestrial beings watching us, they might feel something similar to people around Charlie, watching him grow intellectually, watching him shine and watching him fade in a very short period of time. That's a tragedy.

I hope some day human civilization will overcome death. And before that, I hope humanity will be able to put an end to all the evil, selfishness, violence, etc so this won't enter eternity.

[delphipsmith]

...either changes in the productive forces or changes to the mode of consciousness. This 'chicken-or-egg' scenario... Chicken and egg implies a point of change/differentiation: it was this, now it's that. What if it's more a spiral, constantly on the move? Or a Moebius strip, which is always both this and that at one and the same time?

We've been watching Ricky Gervais' Derek. Algernon-y in many ways. Every episode includes at least one thing that makes me go leaky around the eyes.