Difference Between Eitiology And Pathology

Lectura para la crisis: Fundación

I always curious coincidences are occurring when you read a book or watching a movie and feel that fits some of this. Asimov truth is that it be a continual sense of déjà vu : a man from our past who wrote about our (still very distant) future, and you can always try to go for the present.

"The psychohistorians" First part of the book "Foundation" (1951), which is, in turn, the first volume written from the "trilogy of Foundations" or "The Cycle of Trantor" . Everything could more or less apply to the situation seen now on the American empire, a crisis that apparently it was to be a long time but nothing was done to avoid it, and that despite being there, shows us a U.S. which remain powerful (at least in appearance .) It is specifically a conversation in the book Seldon, mathematical scientist who has planned the end of Empire, and a government lawyer trying to charge him as a liar and traitor

Seldon

The explanation is simple . The coming destruction of Trantor is not an isolated event schema of human development. It will be the culmination of an intricate drama that began for centuries and continuously accelerates its speed. I mean, gentlemen, to the continuing decline of the Galactic Empire. (...)

ATTORNEY

Do you realize, Dr. Seldon, you're talking about an empire that has existed for twelve thousand years, despite all the vicissitudes of generations; which is supported by the good wishes and love of human beings trillion?

(...) And [yet] predicted its downfall? Seldon

is a prediction made by mathematics. There is no moral judgments. Personally, I regret the prospect. Although it is accepted that the rule should not (which I do), the state of anarchy after the fall would be even worse. is that state of anarchy my project aims to combat. However, the fall of the empire, gentlemen, is something monumental and can not easily combated. is dictated by a growing bureaucracy, a recession of the initiative, a freezing of caste, stagnation of curiosity ... and many other factors. As I said, centuries ago that is forming just too great to stop. ATTORNEY

Is not it obvious to everyone that the rule is so strong as usual? Seldon

The appearance of strength is not an illusion. Seems to have to last forever. However, lawyer, rotten tree trunk, to the very moment when the storm breaks it in two, has all the appearance of solid ever had. Now the storm is upon the branches of the empire. Listen with the ears of psychohistory, and hear the crunch. ATTORNEY

(with uncertainty)

We are not here, Dr. Seldon, to listen ...

Seldon

(Firmly)

The rule will disappear and with it all positive values. The accumulated knowledge will decay and has imposed order will vanish. Interstellar wars will be endless, interstellar trade will fall, the population will decline, the worlds will lose contact with the core of the galaxy. This is what will happen. (...)