Which science fiction predictions will come true?
“Humanity will split into two unequal parts by a measure unknown to us; the smaller part will be accelerated and forever overtaken by the larger part, and this will happen through the efforts and will of a super-civilization, a super-civilization that is completely alien to humanity.” Such a prediction is made by a scientist in Strugatskys՛ novel “The Waves Quench the Wind.” The “insights” voiced in the document called “Bromberg’s Memorandum” are partially correct and partially incorrect in this novel. And if we look at it from today’s point of view, the writers were able to predict some features of the developments about 50 years ago.
First, let’s talk about what seems like pure fantasy from today’s perspective. Humanity, yes, is divided into two unequal parts, but these parts do not differ from each other purely physically or biologically. Second, there seem to be no signs of “super-civilization” beyond us. Thirdly, this division has always existed, but in the 21st century, the gap is deepening.
Let me tell you what I think is very likely. For this reason, it is worth remembering an episode from the novel. To “differentiate” humanity, the “super-civilization” sends fantastical and, at first sight, frightening characters to a settlement. The reaction of the majority is standard: they flee in panic. But a boy and an older woman are not afraid; they think that these creatures are either miserable or they want to play with them. A few others, although they run away at first, then return; curiosity trumps fear.
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Here is the standard by which the majority and the minority, ordinary and extraordinary, standard and non-standard people, are distinguished. This separation of responses (“dispersion” is the word used in the novel) is visible in our daily lives. Let me give a simple example. You get into a subway car, and you see dozens of people sitting there, engrossed in their phones, but one or two sitting with a book. Standard are games (sometimes very violent) and social sites, through which people mostly kill time, trying to avoid boredom. It’s the same alcohol, drugs, or self-absorbed shopping. The non-standard is reading or listening to a book. In one case, “joy” is unquote and temporary, constantly requiring a new “dose.” Otherwise, the joy is absolute because it is based on curiosity.
Another example is politics. Specifically, in the case of Armenia, the majority is now chewing the tasteless gum of “pro-Russian-pro Western” and “pro-Nikol-anti-Nikol.” Is that agenda formed in a haphazard, elemental way, simply through a combination of statuses, reactions, and “emojis”? I think that no. this process is controlled, not by some fantastic “super-civilization” or conventional “freemasons” gathered somewhere, but by algorithms that force people to stick to standards and stereotypes. Those algorithms, of course, existed before the digital age; they just looked different and didn’t deal with the masses.
Russian psychologist and astrologer Avessalom (Absalom) Podvodny distinguished several levels of personality maturity: immature (infantile, adolescent, youth), mature, and integral. In every country, there are several hundred mature people who do not fall prey to various kinds of “algorithms.” The Integral level is beyond the reach of us, mere mortals. Indeed, there were integral personalities among Armenians, for example, Grigor Narekatsi or Nerses Shnorhali. In the 20th century, there were also such people, one in a million. Such, in my opinion, are the German philosopher, musician, and physician Albert Schweitzer and the American Catholic theologian and poet Thomas Merton.
But we ordinary people are destined to be mature at best. That level brings not only the joys of curiosity (real, not “drug” joys) but also specific responsibilities. The most important of such duties is not to fall under the pressure of the majority, not pretend to be ignorant, and to bring as many people as possible to maturity.
On that occasion, I would like to recall the words with which the integral person, the Apostle Paul, addressed the mature people, the Christian community of the Corinthians. “Be not moved by glory, or dishonor, or praise, or blame. Let people call us misguided; we know we have not strayed from the truth. Let them not want to know us; we know they will know us well. Let them think that our life is sad; we are always happy. Let them consider us poor; we enrich the lives of many. Yes, it seems we have nothing, while we have everything” (2 Corinthians, 6:8-10).
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
