Heavy is the Cost…Heavy is the Cost…

FeracoFeracoMyth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

18 March 201018 March 2010

• Let’s look at what it means to live in Let’s look at what it means to live in Orwell’s universeOrwell’s universe

• Nothing comes for freeNothing comes for free• The cost of lovingThe cost of loving• The cost of believingThe cost of believing• The cost of livingThe cost of living

• We’ll tie those costs to issues of power – We’ll tie those costs to issues of power – since that seems to be one of the book’s since that seems to be one of the book’s focal pointsfocal points

• How many of you would like to hold How many of you would like to hold power at some point in your lifetimes?power at some point in your lifetimes?

• Which kinds of power will you pursue?Which kinds of power will you pursue?

• External controlsExternal controls– Boss Boss Employees Employees– Parent Parent Children Children

• Why is this type of power important?Why is this type of power important?– Protect those you care aboutProtect those you care about– Protect yourself (not everyone’s an angel)Protect yourself (not everyone’s an angel)– Perpetuate yourself/your legacyPerpetuate yourself/your legacy

• Internal controlsInternal controls– Be your own bossBe your own boss– Intelligence/Emotion Intelligence/Emotion Control the direction Control the direction

of your thoughts, independently reach of your thoughts, independently reach conclusions and make choices, and feel conclusions and make choices, and feel secure with your own/collective identitysecure with your own/collective identity

– Physical Physical Freedom to choose independent Freedom to choose independent action, establish roles, and provide for action, establish roles, and provide for immediate security immediate security

• Two QuestionsTwo Questions– Why aren’t the internal controls supposed to be Why aren’t the internal controls supposed to be

attractive if applied externally? (i.e. Why shouldn’t attractive if applied externally? (i.e. Why shouldn’t we seek to manipulate others’ emotions if we seek to we seek to manipulate others’ emotions if we seek to control our own?)control our own?)

– How do you frame/express what you want? Do you How do you frame/express what you want? Do you express yourself in terms of what you don’t want vs. express yourself in terms of what you don’t want vs. what you do?what you do?

• These discrepancies highlight the two ways These discrepancies highlight the two ways people can sustain power – through either people can sustain power – through either negative or positive consequences – and the negative or positive consequences – and the vast differences between the approaches in vast differences between the approaches in terms of relationships and sustainabilityterms of relationships and sustainability

Character Relationships – Type Character Relationships – Type 11

• Negative ConsequenceNegative Consequence– Established in terms of what you don’t want Established in terms of what you don’t want

to happento happen– This can be framed positively (“Protect”) or This can be framed positively (“Protect”) or

negatively (“Avoid”)negatively (“Avoid”)– Grants influence and power to elements out Grants influence and power to elements out

of an individual’s control in order to provide of an individual’s control in order to provide motivationmotivation

– Relationships based on fear, mutual harm, Relationships based on fear, mutual harm, and deficiencyand deficiency

Character Relationships – Type Character Relationships – Type 22

• Positive ConsequencePositive Consequence– Established in terms of what you want to Established in terms of what you want to

happenhappen– This is difficult to frame negativelyThis is difficult to frame negatively– Grants influence and power to elements that Grants influence and power to elements that

remain in an individual’s control in order to remain in an individual’s control in order to provide motivationprovide motivation

– Relationships based on loyalty, respect, and Relationships based on loyalty, respect, and consistencyconsistency

• Here’s a fascinating quirk – you establish Here’s a fascinating quirk – you establish truly positive relationships when you truly positive relationships when you have the luxury of survivalhave the luxury of survival

• If you aren’t “assured” of survival, If you aren’t “assured” of survival, virtually everything you’re doing is a virtually everything you’re doing is a buttress against a fate you’re trying to buttress against a fate you’re trying to avoid (i.e., death)avoid (i.e., death)

• It’s the difference between tossing a cupcake to a It’s the difference between tossing a cupcake to a starving man, who eats it without hesitation – starving man, who eats it without hesitation – without thought – because he instinctively avoids without thought – because he instinctively avoids oblivion, and tossing one to someone who’s well-oblivion, and tossing one to someone who’s well-fed and therefore can make an intelligent decision fed and therefore can make an intelligent decision regarding the cupcakeregarding the cupcake

• In this sense, the things our characters convince In this sense, the things our characters convince themselves they need tend to influence negative, themselves they need tend to influence negative, powerless approaches to existence rather than powerless approaches to existence rather than positive, proactive ones; they stunt their own positive, proactive ones; they stunt their own growthgrowth

• You’ll find that both are important over the course of your You’ll find that both are important over the course of your lifetime – and that some of your relationships are harder to lifetime – and that some of your relationships are harder to classifyclassify

• Let’s say negative-consequence relationships belong more to Let’s say negative-consequence relationships belong more to the province of “macro” relationships – bonds between the province of “macro” relationships – bonds between nations, between companies, between people who compete nations, between companies, between people who compete for leadership positions, and so on – while positive-for leadership positions, and so on – while positive-consequence relationships will tend to be the friendships you consequence relationships will tend to be the friendships you pursue consciouslypursue consciously

• The key, then, is to prevent your friendships from becoming The key, then, is to prevent your friendships from becoming negative ones – I hang out with Person X because it’s easy negative ones – I hang out with Person X because it’s easy vs. I hang out with Person X because I don’t want to face the vs. I hang out with Person X because I don’t want to face the consequences of consequences of notnot being with them being with them

• Winston, interestingly, seems to have hybrid Winston, interestingly, seems to have hybrid relationships!relationships!– You can say that he’s loyal to Julia because he loves her, but he You can say that he’s loyal to Julia because he loves her, but he

never states itnever states it– You can say that he “wants Julia to happen” because he desires You can say that he “wants Julia to happen” because he desires

her physicallyher physically– But it’s also easy to see how Winston treats Julia like the But it’s also easy to see how Winston treats Julia like the

starving man treats the cupcakestarving man treats the cupcake– She gives him a reason to live, implying that without her, he’d She gives him a reason to live, implying that without her, he’d

go back to the slightly suicidal pattern of behavior he’d go back to the slightly suicidal pattern of behavior he’d established earlier in the bookestablished earlier in the book

• Does Winston keep spending time with Julia because he Does Winston keep spending time with Julia because he loves her, or because he can’t bear the thought of loves her, or because he can’t bear the thought of being alone again after he’s had a taste of “the good being alone again after he’s had a taste of “the good life” as it’s defined in Orwell’s universe – i.e., life as an life” as it’s defined in Orwell’s universe – i.e., life as an actual human being?actual human being?

• The fact that we even consider this question is The fact that we even consider this question is a testament to how badly the Party warps a testament to how badly the Party warps human beingshuman beings

• The Party operates based on a series of The Party operates based on a series of negative consequences obsessively repurposed negative consequences obsessively repurposed as positives – to the point that history must be as positives – to the point that history must be changed to justify the lies the Party tellschanged to justify the lies the Party tells– (We’ll wonder about whether Orwell argues that (We’ll wonder about whether Orwell argues that

positive-consequence or negative-consequence positive-consequence or negative-consequence relationships last longer at the end of this section)relationships last longer at the end of this section)

• Orwell then goes on to make a Orwell then goes on to make a comparison between approaches to comparison between approaches to maintaining power – since that seems to maintaining power – since that seems to be the Party’s endgame, regardless of be the Party’s endgame, regardless of whether it’s a fundamentally positive or whether it’s a fundamentally positive or negative one – from different periods of negative one – from different periods of human historyhuman history

• Party vs. Inquisition vs. TotalitariansParty vs. Inquisition vs. Totalitarians

• InquisitionInquisition– Created martyrsCreated martyrs– Thou shalt notThou shalt not– Actions – NoActions – No– Thoughts – NoThoughts – No– Building a Better WorldBuilding a Better World

• TotalitariansTotalitarians– Avoided creating martyrs (except when doing Avoided creating martyrs (except when doing

so served a greater purpose)so served a greater purpose)– Thou shaltThou shalt– Actions – YesActions – Yes– Thoughts – NoThoughts – No– Building a Better WorldBuilding a Better World

• PartyParty– Avoids creating martyrs (except when doing Avoids creating martyrs (except when doing

so serves a greater purpose)so serves a greater purpose)– Thou artThou art– Actions – YesActions – Yes– Thoughts – YesThoughts – Yes– Pulling Heaven DownPulling Heaven Down

• The Party’s behavior suggests a extremely The Party’s behavior suggests a extremely cynical view of humanity – that while we cynical view of humanity – that while we profess to be positive and outwardly-focused profess to be positive and outwardly-focused beings, at our core we’re willing to surrender beings, at our core we’re willing to surrender everything just to stay safe…or even just to everything just to stay safe…or even just to survivesurvive

• Moreover, we can’t bring ourselves to recognize Moreover, we can’t bring ourselves to recognize this independently because we prefer to think this independently because we prefer to think of ourselves differentlyof ourselves differently

• Therefore, the Party frames things in language Therefore, the Party frames things in language that expresses itself in terms of what we that expresses itself in terms of what we want want to wantto want – positive things – while reducing us to – positive things – while reducing us to our basest desire (self-perpetuation, even in the our basest desire (self-perpetuation, even in the negative abstract) and sparing nothing elsenegative abstract) and sparing nothing else

• It’s interesting that the desire for self-It’s interesting that the desire for self-perpetuation – so powerfully independent – is perpetuation – so powerfully independent – is nurtured and used to sustain the Party rather nurtured and used to sustain the Party rather than eliminatedthan eliminated

• But this points back to a realization Winston But this points back to a realization Winston reaches about the Party’s attitude towards the reaches about the Party’s attitude towards the things it can’t killthings it can’t kill– It can’t kill human sexuality – so it makes it toxicIt can’t kill human sexuality – so it makes it toxic– It can’t kill the desire for family life and family It can’t kill the desire for family life and family

structure – so it subverts its original purpose and structure – so it subverts its original purpose and turns it against itselfturns it against itself

• In this same fashion, it can’t kill the human In this same fashion, it can’t kill the human desire to survive – so what does it do?desire to survive – so what does it do?– It reshapes itIt reshapes it

• O’Brien describes relationships between people and O’Brien describes relationships between people and bodies (think the Brotherhood or the Party) in terms bodies (think the Brotherhood or the Party) in terms of cells and organsof cells and organs

• This gets down to the foundation of individualism, for This gets down to the foundation of individualism, for a cell doesn’t desire existence over the organ – and a cell doesn’t desire existence over the organ – and that attitude has to be conditioned into a human that attitude has to be conditioned into a human beingbeing

• If it can convince you that the Party is more If it can convince you that the Party is more important than the individual – that life is important than the individual – that life is impermanent and the Party is immortal – then it winsimpermanent and the Party is immortal – then it wins

• What the Party ends up doing is removing the What the Party ends up doing is removing the conscious desire for survival by shoving it into conscious desire for survival by shoving it into the unconscious/subconscious/instinctive part of the unconscious/subconscious/instinctive part of the brainthe brain

• This means that, in essence, the Party can This means that, in essence, the Party can nevernever kill it because it’s now out of reachkill it because it’s now out of reach

• Simultaneously, the Party replaces the conscious Simultaneously, the Party replaces the conscious desire for self-perpetuation in people like Parsons desire for self-perpetuation in people like Parsons with the conscious desire for the with the conscious desire for the PartyParty’s self-’s self-perpetuationperpetuation

• You convince yourself a) that sacrifice is noble, b) You convince yourself a) that sacrifice is noble, b) that you’re making a sacrifice voluntarily for the that you’re making a sacrifice voluntarily for the good of the whole, and that c) this therefore good of the whole, and that c) this therefore confers individual nobility upon yourselfconfers individual nobility upon yourself

• In actuality, the Party has made you into a being In actuality, the Party has made you into a being whose every action somehow perpetuates the whose every action somehow perpetuates the organ while starving the cell – repurposing the organ while starving the cell – repurposing the survival instinct to fuel itself rather than its survival instinct to fuel itself rather than its populationpopulation

• It’s not a flattering picture of humanity, and It’s not a flattering picture of humanity, and many people resist the idea that they’d react in many people resist the idea that they’d react in the same waythe same way

• One wonders if these things Orwell writes about One wonders if these things Orwell writes about are really at the core of who we are – if the are really at the core of who we are – if the Party’s behavior is accurate – or if human Party’s behavior is accurate – or if human beings are fundamentally better, or at least beings are fundamentally better, or at least more complicatedmore complicated

• For this, we have to look at what For this, we have to look at what threatens the Partythreatens the Party

• Compassion seems to be a threat to Compassion seems to be a threat to them, as indicated by Winston’s them, as indicated by Winston’s experiences in the Ministry of Love – and experiences in the Ministry of Love – and while love and sex are obvious threats for while love and sex are obvious threats for the reasons Julia describes, compassion is the reasons Julia describes, compassion is somewhat trickiersomewhat trickier

• Why kill compassion if it helps perpetuate Why kill compassion if it helps perpetuate the workforce?the workforce?

• Perhaps the Party’s attitude reflects a Perhaps the Party’s attitude reflects a belief that compassion is fundamentally belief that compassion is fundamentally ingrained in human beings, just as the ingrained in human beings, just as the aforementioned desires for love and sex aforementioned desires for love and sex are – but while the other two can be are – but while the other two can be repurposed to serve the party instead of repurposed to serve the party instead of killedkilled

• In this sense, the Party reverts to Inquisition-level In this sense, the Party reverts to Inquisition-level tactics – Thou shalt not – which indicates that this truly tactics – Thou shalt not – which indicates that this truly is one of its weak spotsis one of its weak spots

• It’s the secret to why the proles need to be kept as It’s the secret to why the proles need to be kept as stupid drones – because they feel, and the Party lacks stupid drones – because they feel, and the Party lacks the power to kill feeling on that large a scalethe power to kill feeling on that large a scale

• It can only use ignorance as a stop-gap measureIt can only use ignorance as a stop-gap measure• As long as the proles are willing to be stupid – it As long as the proles are willing to be stupid – it isis

easier in the short term – the Party is safeeasier in the short term – the Party is safe

• Ironically, the thing that would inspire the proles to rise Ironically, the thing that would inspire the proles to rise up is if they up is if they feltfelt aggrieved – is if they realized what was aggrieved – is if they realized what was being done to all of them, and reactedbeing done to all of them, and reacted

• As a result, the Party’s minimal interventions in the As a result, the Party’s minimal interventions in the lives of the proles serve a dual purposelives of the proles serve a dual purpose– They remove dangerous individuals in a precise and surgical They remove dangerous individuals in a precise and surgical

way, which allows the Party to avoid over-extending itself way, which allows the Party to avoid over-extending itself (relative to its resources)(relative to its resources)

– They don’t seem to be a big part of the proles’ lives, and They don’t seem to be a big part of the proles’ lives, and therefore avoid the anger that the commoners re-direct at each therefore avoid the anger that the commoners re-direct at each otherother

• Ultimately, arguments about human beings as Ultimately, arguments about human beings as “fundamentally bad” run into the gray areas of instincts “fundamentally bad” run into the gray areas of instincts that run the gamut from base to noblethat run the gamut from base to noble– ““Caring is a reflex. Someone slips, your arm goes out. A car is Caring is a reflex. Someone slips, your arm goes out. A car is

in the ditch, you join the others and push...You live, you help.” – in the ditch, you join the others and push...You live, you help.” – Ram DassRam Dass

• Even in the Ministry of Love – when humans are Even in the Ministry of Love – when humans are reduced to the lowest of the low – it takes a long time reduced to the lowest of the low – it takes a long time to break compassion; prisoners even instinctively seek to break compassion; prisoners even instinctively seek it in their captorsit in their captors

• So perhaps we’re better than the Party gives us credit So perhaps we’re better than the Party gives us credit for – which is why it has to try to ruin us in order to stay for – which is why it has to try to ruin us in order to stay in powerin power

• Since the Party can’t fully ruin human beings, it Since the Party can’t fully ruin human beings, it seems content to force them into a seems content to force them into a fundamentally awful choice – obliterate yourself fundamentally awful choice – obliterate yourself as yourself, or survive as something unlike youas yourself, or survive as something unlike you– Intelligence and EmotionIntelligence and Emotion– Survival vs. OblivionSurvival vs. Oblivion

• ParsonsParsons• WinstonWinston

• Is it worthwhile for Winston to keep breathing Is it worthwhile for Winston to keep breathing once he’s sustaining a body instead of a soul?once he’s sustaining a body instead of a soul?

• Let’s look at some necessary conditions for Let’s look at some necessary conditions for survivalsurvival– Ability to thinkAbility to think– Ability to feelAbility to feel– Sustenance and AirSustenance and Air– Anything else?Anything else?

• Watch as the Party strips these away, one by Watch as the Party strips these away, one by oneone– We’re not left with survival (meaningful existence), We’re not left with survival (meaningful existence),

but but survivalsurvival (self-perpetuation of cells and organs) (self-perpetuation of cells and organs)

• Ultimately, we’re confronted with our three Ultimately, we’re confronted with our three concerns from the beginning – the costs of concerns from the beginning – the costs of living, believing, and lovingliving, believing, and loving

• We see that they’re deeply interrelated, and We see that they’re deeply interrelated, and that each of them comes back to issues of that each of them comes back to issues of internal power vs. external controls (i.e., how internal power vs. external controls (i.e., how much control you’re willing to surrender in much control you’re willing to surrender in order to get what you want)order to get what you want)

• The cost of loving – here – may be The cost of loving – here – may be survival or controlsurvival or control– Are the benefits worth the sacrifice?Are the benefits worth the sacrifice?

• The cost of believing – here – is control The cost of believing – here – is control and philosophyand philosophy– Are these the components of the human Are these the components of the human

soul?soul?• The cost of living – here – is control and The cost of living – here – is control and

beliefbelief– Are the benefits worth the sacrifice?Are the benefits worth the sacrifice?

• It’s hard to tell how Orwell It’s hard to tell how Orwell wantswants us to us to thinkthink

• That’s probably best, for it’s time we That’s probably best, for it’s time we looked at other conditions for survivallooked at other conditions for survival– Certainty?Certainty?– Truth?Truth?– Is it more important for things to be true, or Is it more important for things to be true, or

for us to believe they are?for us to believe they are?

• Pyrrho was an ancient philosopher, one of the Pyrrho was an ancient philosopher, one of the forefathers of modern skepticismforefathers of modern skepticism– He avoided stating that anything was inherently true, He avoided stating that anything was inherently true,

consistently advocating contrary positions as an consistently advocating contrary positions as an intellectual exerciseintellectual exercise

– He saw “both sides” – more realistically, multiple He saw “both sides” – more realistically, multiple sides – of everythingsides – of everything

– In other words, he avoided the concept of truth In other words, he avoided the concept of truth entirely – except, perhaps, to state that the only entirely – except, perhaps, to state that the only truth in the universe is that nothing is black-and-truth in the universe is that nothing is black-and-white truewhite true

• Is he crazy? How can a person lead such Is he crazy? How can a person lead such a skeptical existence without exhausting a skeptical existence without exhausting himself?himself?

• There’s a certain certainty in a system There’s a certain certainty in a system predicated on chaospredicated on chaos

• After all, is Pyrrho far from the truth by After all, is Pyrrho far from the truth by proclaiming there is none – or has he proclaiming there is none – or has he found the only thing we can count on?found the only thing we can count on?

• Orwell isn’t necessarily following the Pyrrhonic Orwell isn’t necessarily following the Pyrrhonic tradition any more than I dotradition any more than I do

• At the end of a day spent urging you to At the end of a day spent urging you to consider all sides before making an ultimate consider all sides before making an ultimate judgment – itself a violation of Pyrrhonic judgment – itself a violation of Pyrrhonic thought – I usually pick a position I like best, thought – I usually pick a position I like best, although I often try to make sure I understand although I often try to make sure I understand the opposing position(s) thoroughlythe opposing position(s) thoroughly– Orwell’s writing follows the same patternOrwell’s writing follows the same pattern

• Perhaps there’s another condition for Perhaps there’s another condition for survival: memorysurvival: memory– A great fear – the loss of memory A great fear – the loss of memory the loss the loss

of selfof self– Does the past exist?Does the past exist?– Can we have anything without the power to Can we have anything without the power to

think, learn, remember, and grow?think, learn, remember, and grow?– Is the freedom to think, then, the highest of Is the freedom to think, then, the highest of

all human freedoms?all human freedoms?

• You must surrender those freedoms in You must surrender those freedoms in order to survive in Oceania order to survive in Oceania

• It’s a truly evil bargain, and there’s not an It’s a truly evil bargain, and there’s not an easy choiceeasy choice

• Either way…the cost is heavy, isn’t it?Either way…the cost is heavy, isn’t it?