"But those who have not given up hope can succeed only if they are hardheaded realists, shed all illusions, and fully appreciate the difficulties. This sobriety marks the distinction between awake and dreaming utopians."
There seems to be a widespread hope that one man can do a significant amount to "fix the world" and "put in place an architecture of peace for the 21st century." That's a mighty tall order...
The idea of "fixing the world" prompted me to post the next paragraph of the above quotation.
"To mention only a few of the difficulties the construction of the new society has to solve:
- It would have to solve the problem of how to continue the industrial mode of production without total centralization, i.e., without ending up in fascism of the old-fashioned type or, more likely, technological 'fascism with a smiling face.'
- It would have to combine overall planning with a high degree of decentralization, giving up the 'free-market economy,' that has become largely a fiction.
- It would have to give up the goal of unlimited growth for selective growth, without running the risk of economic disaster.
- It would have to create work conditions and a general spirit in which not material gain but other, psychic satisfactions are effective motivations.
- It would have to further scientific progress and, at the same time, prevent this progress from becoming a danger to the human race by its practical application.
- It would have to create conditions under which people experience well-being and joy, not the satisfaction of the maximum-pleasure drive.
- It would have to give basic security to individuals without making them dependent on a bureaucracy to feed them.
- It must restore the possibilities for 'individual initiative' in living, rather than in business (where it hardly exists any more anyway)."
Oddly presentient of our current situation in many aspects .
Bonus points if you can name the source and/or author of that quote. (Hint: 1967)
2 comments:
Hi. You should download and read "Comme Appelé du Néant—
As If Summoned from the Void:
The Life of Alexandre
Grothendieck" by Alynn Jackson. It's right here ( http://www.ams.org/notices/200409/fea-grothendieck-part1.pdf ) and it is still the best and only bio of Grothendieck! You will love reading it though even if you do or do not understand the math.
The Amir D. Aczel book is ultimately disappointing, imho.
Thanks! I'll check it out. I was a bit disappointed by ending of the Aczel book.
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