unabomber's manifesto

7/31/2019 Unabomber's Manifesto

1/72

Unabomber'sManifesto

ThefollowingisfulltextoftheUnabomber'sManifesto.

_________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

1.TheIndustrialRevolutionanditsconsequenceshavebeenadisaster

forthehumanrace.Theyhavegreatlyincreasedthelifeexpectancyof

thoseofuswholivein"advanced"countries,buttheyhave

destabilizedsociety,havemadelifeunfulfilling,havesubjected

humanbeingstoindignities,haveledtowidespreadpsychological

suffering(intheThirdWorldtophysicalsufferingaswell)andhave

inflictedseveredamageonthenaturalworld.Thecontinued

developmentoftechnologywillworsenthesituation.Itwillcertainly

subjecthuman

beings

to

greater

indignities

and

inflict

greater

damage

onthenaturalworld,itwillprobablyleadtogreatersocial

disruptionandpsychologicalsuffering,anditmayleadtoincreased

physicalsufferingevenin"advanced"countries.

2.Theindustrialtechnologicalsystemmaysurviveoritmaybreak

down.Ifitsurvives,itMAYeventuallyachievealowlevelof

physicalandpsychologicalsuffering,butonlyafterpassingthrougha

longandverypainfulperiodofadjustmentandonlyatthecostof

permanentlyreducinghumanbeingsandmanyotherlivingorganismsto

engineeredproducts

and

mere

cogs

in

the

social

machine.

Furthermore,

ifthesystemsurvives,theconsequenceswillbeinevitable:Thereis

nowayofreformingormodifyingthesystemsoastopreventitfrom

deprivingpeopleofdignityandautonomy.

3.Ifthesystembreaksdowntheconsequenceswillstillbevery

painful.Butthebiggerthesystemgrowsthemoredisastrousthe

resultsofitsbreakdownwillbe,soifitistobreakdownithad

bestbreakdownsoonerratherthanlater.

4.We

therefore

advocate

arevolution

against

the

industrial

system.

Thisrevolutionmayormaynotmakeuseofviolence:itmaybesudden

oritmaybearelativelygradualprocessspanningafewdecades.We

can'tpredictanyofthat.Butwedooutlineinaverygeneralwaythe

measuresthatthosewhohatetheindustrialsystemshouldtakein

ordertopreparethewayforarevolutionagainstthatformof

society.ThisisnottobeaPOLITICALrevolution.Itsobjectwillbe

tooverthrownotgovernmentsbuttheeconomicandtechnologicalbasis

ofthepresentsociety.

5.

In

this

article

we

give

attention

to

only

some

of

the

negative

developmentsthathavegrownoutoftheindustrialtechnological

system.Othersuchdevelopmentswementiononlybrieflyorignore

altogether.Thisdoesnotmeanthatweregardtheseotherdevelopments


2/72

asunimportant.Forpracticalreasonswehavetoconfineour

discussiontoareasthathavereceivedinsufficientpublicattention

orinwhichwehavesomethingnewtosay.Forexample,sincethereare

welldevelopedenvironmentalandwildernessmovements,wehavewritten

verylittleaboutenvironmentaldegradationorthedestructionofwild

nature,eventhoughweconsiderthesetobehighlyimportant.

THEPSYCHOLOGYOFMODERNLEFTISM

6.Almosteveryonewillagreethatweliveinadeeplytroubled

society.Oneofthemostwidespreadmanifestationsofthecrazinessof

ourworldisleftism,soadiscussionofthepsychologyofleftismcan

serveasanintroductiontothediscussionoftheproblemsofmodern

societyingeneral.

7.Butwhatisleftism?Duringthefirsthalfofthe20thcentury

leftismcouldhavebeenpracticallyidentifiedwithsocialism.Today

themovementisfragmentedanditisnotclearwhocanproperlybe

calledaleftist.Whenwespeakofleftistsinthisarticlewehavein

mindmainlysocialists,collectivists,"politicallycorrect"types,

feminists,gayanddisabilityactivists,animalrightsactivistsand

thelike.Butnoteveryonewhoisassociatedwithoneofthese

movementsisaleftist.Whatwearetryingtogetatindiscussing

leftismisnotsomuchamovementoranideologyasapsychological

type,or

rather

acollection

of

related

types.

Thus,

what

we

mean

by

"leftism"willemergemoreclearlyinthecourseofourdiscussionof

leftistpsychology(Also,seeparagraphs227230.)

8.Evenso,ourconceptionofleftismwillremainagooddealless

clearthanwewouldwish,buttheredoesn'tseemtobeanyremedyfor

this.Allwearetryingtodoisindicateinaroughandapproximate

waythetwopsychologicaltendenciesthatwebelievearethemain

drivingforceofmodernleftism.Webynomeansclaimtobetelling

theWHOLEtruthaboutleftistpsychology.Also,ourdiscussionis

meantto

apply

to

modern

leftism

only.

We

leave

open

the

question

of

theextenttowhichourdiscussioncouldbeappliedtotheleftistsof

the19thandearly20thcentury.

9.Thetwopsychologicaltendenciesthatunderliemodernleftismwe

call"feelingsofinferiority"and"oversocialization."Feelingsof

inferiorityarecharacteristicofmodernleftismasawhole,while

oversocializationischaracteristiconlyofacertainsegmentof

modernleftism;butthissegmentishighlyinfluential.


3/72

FEELINGSOFINFERIORITY

10.By"feelingsofinferiority"wemeannotonlyinferiorityfeelings

inthestrictestsensebutawholespectrumofrelatedtraits:low

selfesteem,feelingsofpowerlessness,depressivetendencies,

defeatism,guilt,

self

hatred,

etc.

We

argue

that

modern

leftists

tend

tohavesuchfeelings(possiblymoreorlessrepressed)andthatthese

feelingsaredecisiveindeterminingthedirectionofmodernleftism.

11.Whensomeoneinterpretsasderogatoryalmostanythingthatissaid

abouthim(oraboutgroupswithwhomheidentifies)weconcludethat

hehasinferiorityfeelingsorlowselfesteem.Thistendencyis

pronouncedamongminorityrightsadvocates,whetherornottheybelong

totheminoritygroupswhoserightstheydefend.Theyare

hypersensitiveaboutthewordsusedtodesignateminorities.Theterms

"negro,""oriental,"

"handicapped"

or

"chick"

for

an

African,

an

Asian,adisabledpersonorawomanoriginallyhadnoderogatory

connotation."Broad"and"chick"weremerelythefeminineequivalents

of"guy,""dude"or"fellow."Thenegativeconnotationshavebeen

attachedtothesetermsbytheactiviststhemselves.Someanimal

rightsadvocateshavegonesofarastorejecttheword"pet"and

insistonitsreplacementby"animalcompanion."Leftist

anthropologistsgotogreatlengthstoavoidsayinganythingabout

primitivepeoplesthatcouldconceivablybeinterpretedasnegative.

Theywanttoreplacetheword"primitive"by"nonliterate."Theyseem

almostparanoid

about

anything

that

might

suggest

that

any

primitive

cultureisinferiortoourown.(Wedonotmeantoimplythat

primitiveculturesAREinferiortoours.Wemerelypointoutthe

hypersensitivityofleftishanthropologists.)

12.Thosewhoaremostsensitiveabout"politicallyincorrect"

terminologyarenottheaverageblackghettodweller,Asianimmigrant,

abusedwomanordisabledperson,butaminorityofactivists,manyof

whomdonotevenbelongtoany"oppressed"groupbutcomefrom

privilegedstrataofsociety.Politicalcorrectnesshasitsstronghold

amonguniversity

professors,

who

have

secure

employment

with

comfortablesalaries,andthemajorityofwhomareheterosexual,white

malesfrommiddleclassfamilies.

13.Manyleftistshaveanintenseidentificationwiththeproblemsof

groupsthathaveanimageofbeingweak(women),defeated(American

Indians),repellent(homosexuals),orotherwiseinferior.Theleftists

themselvesfeelthatthesegroupsareinferior.Theywouldneveradmit

ittothemselvesthattheyhavesuchfeelings,butitisprecisely

becausetheydoseethesegroupsasinferiorthattheyidentifywith

their

problems.

(We

do

not

suggest

that

women,

Indians,

etc.,

ARE

inferior;weareonlymakingapointaboutleftistpsychology).


4/72

14.Feministsaredesperatelyanxioustoprovethatwomenareas

strongascapableasmen.Clearlytheyarenaggedbyafearthatwomen

mayNOTbeasstrongandascapableasmen.

15.Leftiststendtohateanythingthathasanimageofbeingstrong,

goodandsuccessful.TheyhateAmerica,theyhateWestern

civilization,theyhatewhitemales,theyhaterationality.The

reasonsthat

leftists

give

for

hating

the

West,

etc.

clearly

do

not

correspondwiththeirrealmotives.TheySAYtheyhatetheWest

becauseitiswarlike,imperialistic,sexist,ethnocentricandso

forth,butwherethesesamefaultsappearinsocialistcountriesorin

primitivecultures,theleftistfindsexcusesforthem,oratbesthe

GRUDGINGLYadmitsthattheyexist;whereasheENTHUSIASTICALLYpoints

out(andoftengreatlyexaggerates)thesefaultswheretheyappearin

Westerncivilization.Thusitisclearthatthesefaultsarenotthe

leftist'srealmotiveforhatingAmericaandtheWest.Hehates

AmericaandtheWestbecausetheyarestrongandsuccessful.

16.Wordslike"selfconfidence,""selfreliance,""initiative",

"enterprise,""optimism,"etc.playlittleroleintheliberaland

leftistvocabulary.Theleftistisantiindividualistic,

procollectivist.Hewantssocietytosolveeveryone'sneedsforthem,

takecareofthem.Heisnotthesortofpersonwhohasaninnersense

ofconfidenceinhisownabilitytosolvehisownproblemsandsatisfy

hisownneeds.Theleftistisantagonistictotheconceptof

competitionbecause,deepinside,hefeelslikealoser.

17.Art

forms

that

appeal

to

modern

leftist

intellectuals

tend

to

focusonsordidness,defeatanddespair,orelsetheytakean

orgiastictone,throwingoffrationalcontrolasiftherewerenohope

ofaccomplishinganythingthroughrationalcalculationandallthat

wasleftwastoimmerseoneselfinthesensationsofthemoment.

18.Modernleftistphilosopherstendtodismissreason,science,

objectiverealityandtoinsistthateverythingisculturally

relative.Itistruethatonecanaskseriousquestionsaboutthe

foundationsofscientificknowledgeandabouthow,ifatall,the

conceptof

objective

reality

can

be

defined.

But

it

is

obvious

that

modernleftistphilosophersarenotsimplycoolheadedlogicians

systematicallyanalyzingthefoundationsofknowledge.Theyaredeeply

involvedemotionallyintheirattackontruthandreality.Theyattack

theseconceptsbecauseoftheirownpsychologicalneeds.Forone

thing,theirattackisanoutletforhostility,and,totheextent

thatitissuccessful,itsatisfiesthedriveforpower.More

importantly,theleftisthatesscienceandrationalitybecausethey

classifycertainbeliefsastrue(i.e.,successful,superior)and

otherbeliefsasfalse(i.e.failed,inferior).Theleftist'sfeelings

of

inferiority

run

so

deep

that

he

cannot

tolerate

any

classification

ofsomethingsassuccessfulorsuperiorandotherthingsasfailedor

inferior.Thisalsounderliestherejectionbymanyleftistsofthe

conceptofmentalillnessandoftheutilityofIQtests.Leftistsare


5/72

antagonistictogeneticexplanationsofhumanabilitiesorbehavior

becausesuchexplanationstendtomakesomepersonsappearsuperioror

inferiortoothers.Leftistsprefertogivesocietythecreditor

blameforanindividual'sabilityorlackofit.Thusifapersonis

"inferior"itisnothisfault,butsociety's,becausehehasnotbeen

broughtupproperly.

19.The

leftist

is

not

typically

the

kind

of

person

whose

feelings

of

inferioritymakehimabraggart,anegotist,abully,aselfpromoter,

aruthlesscompetitor.Thiskindofpersonhasnotwhollylostfaith

inhimself.Hehasadeficitinhissenseofpowerandselfworth,but

hecanstillconceiveofhimselfashavingthecapacitytobestrong,

andhiseffortstomakehimselfstrongproducehisunpleasant

behavior.[1]Buttheleftististoofargoneforthat.Hisfeelings

ofinferiorityaresoingrainedthathecannotconceiveofhimselfas

individuallystrongandvaluable.Hencethecollectivismofthe

leftist.Hecanfeelstrongonlyasamemberofalargeorganization

oramass

movement

with

which

he

identifies

himself.

20.Noticethemasochistictendencyofleftisttactics.Leftists

protestbylyingdowninfrontofvehicles,theyintentionallyprovoke

policeorraciststoabusethem,etc.Thesetacticsmayoftenbe

effective,butmanyleftistsusethemnotasameanstoanendbut

becausetheyPREFERmasochistictactics.Selfhatredisaleftist

trait.

21.Leftistsmayclaimthattheiractivismismotivatedbycompassion

orby

moral

principle,

and

moral

principle

does

play

arole

for

the

leftistoftheoversocializedtype.Butcompassionandmoralprinciple

cannotbethemainmotivesforleftistactivism.Hostilityistoo

prominentacomponentofleftistbehavior;soisthedriveforpower.

Moreover,muchleftistbehaviorisnotrationallycalculatedtobeof

benefittothepeoplewhomtheleftistsclaimtobetryingtohelp.

Forexample,ifonebelievesthataffirmativeactionisgoodforblack

people,doesitmakesensetodemandaffirmativeactioninhostileor

dogmaticterms?Obviouslyitwouldbemoreproductivetotakea

diplomaticandconciliatoryapproachthatwouldmakeatleastverbal

andsymbolic

concessions

to

white

people

who

think

that

affirmative

actiondiscriminatesagainstthem.Butleftistactivistsdonottake

suchanapproachbecauseitwouldnotsatisfytheiremotionalneeds.

Helpingblackpeopleisnottheirrealgoal.Instead,raceproblems

serveasanexcuseforthemtoexpresstheirownhostilityand

frustratedneedforpower.Indoingsotheyactuallyharmblack

people,becausetheactivists'hostileattitudetowardthewhite

majoritytendstointensifyracehatred.

22.Ifoursocietyhadnosocialproblemsatall,theleftistswould

have

to

INVENT

problems

in

order

to

provide

themselves

with

an

excuse

formakingafuss.


6/72

23.Weemphasizethattheforegoingdoesnotpretendtobeanaccurate

descriptionofeveryonewhomightbeconsideredaleftist.Itisonly

aroughindicationofageneraltendencyofleftism.

OVERSOCIALIZATION

24.Psychologistsusetheterm"socialization"todesignatethe

processbywhichchildrenaretrainedtothinkandactassociety

demands.Apersonissaidtobewellsocializedifhebelievesinand

obeysthemoralcodeofhissocietyandfitsinwellasafunctioning

partofthatsociety.Itmayseemsenselesstosaythatmanyleftists

areoversocialized,sincetheleftistisperceivedasarebel.

Nevertheless,thepositioncanbedefended.Manyleftistsarenotsuch

rebelsastheyseem.

25.Themoralcodeofoursocietyissodemandingthatnoonecan

think,feelandactinacompletelymoralway.Forexample,wearenot

supposedtohateanyone,yetalmosteveryonehatessomebodyatsome

timeorother,whetherheadmitsittohimselfornot.Somepeopleare

sohighlysocializedthattheattempttothink,feelandactmorally

imposesasevereburdenonthem.Inordertoavoidfeelingsofguilt,

theycontinuallyhavetodeceivethemselvesabouttheirownmotives

andfindmoralexplanationsforfeelingsandactionsthatinreality

haveanonmoralorigin.Weusetheterm"oversocialized"todescribe

suchpeople.

[2]

26.Oversocializationcanleadtolowselfesteem,asenseof

powerlessness,defeatism,guilt,etc.Oneofthemostimportantmeans

bywhichoursocietysocializeschildrenisbymakingthemfeel

ashamedofbehaviororspeechthatiscontrarytosociety's

expectations.Ifthisisoverdone,orifaparticularchildis

especiallysusceptibletosuchfeelings,heendsbyfeelingashamedof

HIMSELF.Moreoverthethoughtandthebehavioroftheoversocialized

personaremorerestrictedbysociety'sexpectationsthanarethoseof

thelightly

socialized

person.

The

majority

of

people

engage

in

asignificantamountofnaughtybehavior.Theylie,theycommitpetty

thefts,theybreaktrafficlaws,theygoofoffatwork,theyhate

someone,theysayspitefulthingsortheyusesomeunderhandedtrick

togetaheadoftheotherguy.Theoversocializedpersoncannotdo

thesethings,orifhedoesdothemhegeneratesinhimselfasenseof

shameandselfhatred.Theoversocializedpersoncannoteven

experience,withoutguilt,thoughtsorfeelingsthatarecontraryto

theacceptedmorality;hecannotthink"unclean"thoughts.And

socializationisnotjustamatterofmorality;wearesocializedto

confirm

to

many

norms

of

behavior

that

do

not

fall

under

the

heading

ofmorality.Thustheoversocializedpersoniskeptonapsychological

leashandspendshisliferunningonrailsthatsocietyhaslaiddown

forhim.Inmanyoversocializedpeoplethisresultsinasenseof


7/72

constraintandpowerlessnessthatcanbeaseverehardship.Wesuggest

thatoversocializationisamongthemoreseriouscrueltiesthathuman

beingsinflictononeanother.

27.Wearguethataveryimportantandinfluentialsegmentofthe

modernleftisoversocializedandthattheiroversocializationisof

greatimportanceindeterminingthedirectionofmodernleftism.

Leftistsof

the

oversocialized

type

tend

to

be

intellectuals

or

membersoftheuppermiddleclass.Noticethatuniversity

intellectuals(3)constitutethemosthighlysocializedsegmentofour

societyandalsothemostleftwingsegment.

28.Theleftistoftheoversocializedtypetriestogetoffhis

psychologicalleashandasserthisautonomybyrebelling.Butusually

heisnotstrongenoughtorebelagainstthemostbasicvaluesof

society.Generallyspeaking,thegoalsoftoday'sleftistsareNOTin

conflictwiththeacceptedmorality.Onthecontrary,thelefttakes

anaccepted

moral

principle,

adopts

it

as

its

own,

and

then

accuses

mainstreamsocietyofviolatingthatprinciple.Examples:racial

equality,equalityofthesexes,helpingpoorpeople,peaceasopposed

towar,nonviolencegenerally,freedomofexpression,kindnessto

animals.Morefundamentally,thedutyoftheindividualtoserve

societyandthedutyofsocietytotakecareoftheindividual.All

thesehavebeendeeplyrootedvaluesofoursociety(oratleastof

itsmiddleandupperclasses(4)foralongtime.Thesevaluesare

explicitlyorimplicitlyexpressedorpresupposedinmostofthe

materialpresentedtousbythemainstreamcommunicationsmediaand

theeducational

system.

Leftists,

especially

those

of

the

oversocializedtype,usuallydonotrebelagainsttheseprinciplesbut

justifytheirhostilitytosocietybyclaiming(withsomedegreeof

truth)thatsocietyisnotlivinguptotheseprinciples.

29.Hereisanillustrationofthewayinwhichtheoversocialized

leftistshowshisrealattachmenttotheconventionalattitudesofour

societywhilepretendingtobeinrebellionagainstit.Manyleftists

pushforaffirmativeaction,formovingblackpeopleinto

highprestigejobs,forimprovededucationinblackschoolsandmore

moneyfor

such

schools;

the

way

of

life

of

the

black

"underclass"

they

regardasasocialdisgrace.Theywanttointegratetheblackmaninto

thesystem,makehimabusinessexecutive,alawyer,ascientistjust

likeuppermiddleclasswhitepeople.Theleftistswillreplythatthe

lastthingtheywantistomaketheblackmanintoacopyofthewhite

man;instead,theywanttopreserveAfricanAmericanculture.Butin

whatdoesthispreservationofAfricanAmericancultureconsist?It

canhardlyconsistinanythingmorethaneatingblackstylefood,

listeningtoblackstylemusic,wearingblackstyleclothingandgoing

toablackstylechurchormosque.Inotherwords,itcanexpress

itself

only

in

superficial

matters.

In

all

ESSENTIAL

respects

more

leftistsoftheoversocializedtypewanttomaketheblackmanconform

towhite,middleclassideals.Theywanttomakehimstudytechnical

subjects,becomeanexecutiveorascientist,spendhislifeclimbing


8/72

thestatusladdertoprovethatblackpeopleareasgoodaswhite.

Theywanttomakeblackfathers"responsible."theywantblackgangs

tobecomenonviolent,etc.Buttheseareexactlythevaluesofthe

industrialtechnologicalsystem.Thesystemcouldn'tcarelesswhat

kindofmusicamanlistensto,whatkindofclotheshewearsorwhat

religionhebelievesinaslongashestudiesinschool,holdsa

respectablejob,climbsthestatusladder,isa"responsible"parent,

isnonviolent

and

so

forth.

In

effect,

however

much

he

may

deny

it,

theoversocializedleftistwantstointegratetheblackmanintothe

systemandmakehimadoptitsvalues.

30.Wecertainlydonotclaimthatleftists,evenofthe

oversocializedtype,NEVERrebelagainstthefundamentalvaluesofour

society.Clearlytheysometimesdo.Someoversocializedleftistshave

gonesofarastorebelagainstoneofmodernsociety'smostimportant

principlesbyengaginginphysicalviolence.Bytheirownaccount,

violenceisforthemaformof"liberation."Inotherwords,by

committingviolence

they

break

through

the

psychological

restraints

thathavebeentrainedintothem.Becausetheyareoversocialized

theserestraintshavebeenmoreconfiningforthemthanforothers;

hencetheirneedtobreakfreeofthem.Buttheyusuallyjustifytheir

rebellionintermsofmainstreamvalues.Iftheyengageinviolence

theyclaimtobefightingagainstracismorthelike.

31.Werealizethatmanyobjectionscouldberaisedtotheforegoing

thumbnailsketchofleftistpsychology.Therealsituationis

complex,andanythinglikeacompletedescriptionofitwouldtake

severalvolumes

even

if

the

necessary

data

were

available.

We

claim

onlytohaveindicatedveryroughlythetwomostimportanttendencies

inthepsychologyofmodernleftism.

32.Theproblemsoftheleftistareindicativeoftheproblemsofour

societyasawhole.Lowselfesteem,depressivetendenciesand

defeatismarenotrestrictedtotheleft.Thoughtheyareespecially

noticeableintheleft,theyarewidespreadinoursociety.And

today'ssocietytriestosocializeustoagreaterextentthanany

previoussociety.Weareeventoldbyexpertshowtoeat,howto

exercise,how

to

make

love,

how

to

raise

our

kids

and

so

forth.

THEPOWERPROCESS

33.Humanbeingshaveaneed(probablybasedinbiology)forsomething

thatwewillcallthe"powerprocess."Thisiscloselyrelatedtothe

needforpower(whichiswidelyrecognized)butisnotquitethesame

thing.

The

power

process

has

four

elements.

The

three

most

clear

cut

ofthesewecallgoal,effortandattainmentofgoal.(Everyoneneeds

tohavegoalswhoseattainmentrequireseffort,andneedstosucceed

inattainingatleastsomeofhisgoals.)Thefourthelementismore


9/72

difficulttodefineandmaynotbenecessaryforeveryone.Wecallit

autonomyandwilldiscussitlater(paragraphs4244).

34.Considerthehypotheticalcaseofamanwhocanhaveanythinghe

wantsjustbywishingforit.Suchamanhaspower,buthewill

developseriouspsychologicalproblems.Atfirsthewillhavealotof

fun,butbyandbyhewillbecomeacutelyboredanddemoralized.

Eventuallyhe

may

become

clinically

depressed.

History

shows

that

leisuredaristocraciestendtobecomedecadent.Thisisnottrueof

fightingaristocraciesthathavetostruggletomaintaintheirpower.

Butleisured,securearistocraciesthathavenoneedtoexert

themselvesusuallybecomebored,hedonisticanddemoralized,even

thoughtheyhavepower.Thisshowsthatpowerisnotenough.Onemust

havegoalstowardwhichtoexerciseone'spower.

35.Everyonehasgoals;ifnothingelse,toobtainthephysical

necessitiesoflife:food,waterandwhateverclothingandshelterare

madenecessary

by

the

climate.

But

the

leisured

aristocrat

obtains

thesethingswithouteffort.Hencehisboredomanddemoralization.

36.Nonattainmentofimportantgoalsresultsindeathifthegoalsare

physicalnecessities,andinfrustrationifnonattainmentofthegoals

iscompatiblewithsurvival.Consistentfailuretoattaingoals

throughoutliferesultsindefeatism,lowselfesteemordepression.

37.Thus,inordertoavoidseriouspsychologicalproblems,ahuman

beingneedsgoalswhoseattainmentrequireseffort,andhemusthavea

reasonablerate

of

success

in

attaining

his

goals.

SURROGATEACTIVITIES

38.Butnoteveryleisuredaristocratbecomesboredanddemoralized.

Forexample,theemperorHirohito,insteadofsinkingintodecadent

hedonism,devotedhimselftomarinebiology,afieldinwhichhe

becamedistinguished.

When

people

do

not

have

to

exert

themselves

to

satisfytheirphysicalneedstheyoftensetupartificialgoalsfor

themselves.Inmanycasestheythenpursuethesegoalswiththesame

energyandemotionalinvolvementthattheyotherwisewouldhaveput

intothesearchforphysicalnecessities.Thusthearistocratsofthe

RomanEmpirehadtheirliterarypretentions;manyEuropeanaristocrats

afewcenturiesagoinvestedtremendoustimeandenergyinhunting,

thoughtheycertainlydidn'tneedthemeat;otheraristocracieshave

competedforstatusthroughelaboratedisplaysofwealth;andafew

aristocrats,likeHirohito,haveturnedtoscience.

39.Weusetheterm"surrogateactivity"todesignateanactivitythat

isdirectedtowardanartificialgoalthatpeoplesetupfor

themselvesmerelyinordertohavesomegoaltoworktoward,orletus


10/72

say,merelyforthesakeofthe"fulfillment"thattheygetfrom

pursuingthegoal.Hereisaruleofthumbfortheidentificationof

surrogateactivities.Givenapersonwhodevotesmuchtimeandenergy

tothepursuitofgoalX,askyourselfthis:Ifhehadtodevotemost

ofhistimeandenergytosatisfyinghisbiologicalneeds,andifthat

effortrequiredhimtousehisphysicalandmentalfacilitiesina

variedandinterestingway,wouldhefeelseriouslydeprivedbecause

hedid

not

attain

goal

X?

If

the

answer

is

no,

then

the

person's

pursuitofagoalXisasurrogateactivity.Hirohito'sstudiesin

marinebiologyclearlyconstitutedasurrogateactivity,sinceitis

prettycertainthatifHirohitohadhadtospendhistimeworkingat

interestingnonscientifictasksinordertoobtainthenecessitiesof

life,hewouldnothavefeltdeprivedbecausehedidn'tknowallabout

theanatomyandlifecyclesofmarineanimals.Ontheotherhandthe

pursuitofsexandlove(forexample)isnotasurrogateactivity,

becausemostpeople,eveniftheirexistencewereotherwise

satisfactory,wouldfeeldeprivediftheypassedtheirliveswithout

everhaving

arelationship

with

amember

of

the

opposite

sex.

(But

pursuitofanexcessiveamountofsex,morethanonereallyneeds,can

beasurrogateactivity.)

40.Inmodernindustrialsocietyonlyminimaleffortisnecessaryto

satisfyone'sphysicalneeds.Itisenoughtogothroughatraining

programtoacquiresomepettytechnicalskill,thencometoworkon

timeandexertverymodesteffortneededtoholdajob.Theonly

requirementsareamoderateamountofintelligence,andmostofall,

simpleOBEDIENCE.Ifonehasthose,societytakescareofonefrom

cradleto

grave.

(Yes,

there

is

an

underclass

that

cannot

take

physicalnecessitiesforgranted,butwearespeakinghereof

mainstreamsociety.)Thusitisnotsurprisingthatmodernsocietyis

fullofsurrogateactivities.Theseincludescientificwork,athletic

achievement,humanitarianwork,artisticandliterarycreation,

climbingthecorporateladder,acquisitionofmoneyandmaterialgoods

farbeyondthepointatwhichtheyceasetogiveanyadditional

physicalsatisfaction,andsocialactivismwhenitaddressesissues

thatarenotimportantfortheactivistpersonally,asinthecaseof

whiteactivistswhoworkfortherightsofnonwhiteminorities.These

arenot

always

pure

surrogate

activities,

since

for

many

people

they

maybemotivatedinpartbyneedsotherthantheneedtohavesome

goaltopursue.Scientificworkmaybemotivatedinpartbyadrive

forprestige,artisticcreationbyaneedtoexpressfeelings,

militantsocialactivismbyhostility.Butformostpeoplewhopursue

them,theseactivitiesareinlargepartsurrogateactivities.For

example,themajorityofscientistswillprobablyagreethatthe

"fulfillment"theygetfromtheirworkismoreimportantthanthe

moneyandprestigetheyearn.

41.

For

many

if

not

most

people,

surrogate

activities

are

less

satisfyingthanthepursuitofrealgoals(thatis,goalsthatpeople

wouldwanttoattaineveniftheirneedforthepowerprocesswere

alreadyfulfilled).Oneindicationofthisisthefactthat,inmany


11/72

ormostcases,peoplewhoaredeeplyinvolvedinsurrogateactivities

areneversatisfied,neveratrest.Thusthemoneymakerconstantly

strivesformoreandmorewealth.Thescientistnosoonersolvesone

problemthanhemovesontothenext.Thelongdistancerunnerdrives

himselftorunalwaysfartherandfaster.Manypeoplewhopursue

surrogateactivitieswillsaythattheygetfarmorefulfillmentfrom

theseactivitiesthantheydofromthe"mundane"businessof

satisfyingtheir

biological

needs,

but

that

it

is

because

in

our

societytheeffortneededtosatisfythebiologicalneedshasbeen

reducedtotriviality.Moreimportantly,inoursocietypeopledonot

satisfytheirbiologicalneedsAUTONOMOUSLYbutbyfunctioningas

partsofanimmensesocialmachine.Incontrast,peoplegenerallyhave

agreatdealofautonomyinpursuingtheirsurrogateactivities.have

agreatdealofautonomyinpursuingtheirsurrogateactivities.

AUTONOMY

42.Autonomyasapartofthepowerprocessmaynotbenecessaryfor

everyindividual.Butmostpeopleneedagreaterorlesserdegreeof

autonomyinworkingtowardtheirgoals.Theireffortsmustbe

undertakenontheirowninitiativeandmustbeundertheirown

directionandcontrol.Yetmostpeopledonothavetoexertthis

initiative,directionandcontrolassingleindividuals.Itisusually

enoughtoactasamemberofaSMALLgroup.Thusifhalfadozen

peoplediscuss

agoal

among

themselves

and

make

asuccessful

joint

efforttoattainthatgoal,theirneedforthepowerprocesswillbe

served.Butiftheyworkunderrigidordershandeddownfromabove

thatleavethemnoroomforautonomousdecisionandinitiative,then

theirneedforthepowerprocesswillnotbeserved.Thesameistrue

whendecisionsaremadeonacollectivebasesifthegroupmakingthe

collectivedecisionissolargethattheroleofeachindividualis

insignificant[5]

43.Itistruethatsomeindividualsseemtohavelittleneedfor

autonomy.Either

their

drive

for

power

is

weak

or

they

satisfy

it

by

identifyingthemselveswithsomepowerfulorganizationtowhichthey

belong.Andthenthereareunthinking,animaltypeswhoseemtobe

satisfiedwithapurelyphysicalsenseofpower(thegoodcombat

soldier,whogetshissenseofpowerbydevelopingfightingskills

thatheisquitecontenttouseinblindobediencetohissuperiors).

44.Butformostpeopleitisthroughthepowerprocesshavingagoal,

makinganAUTONOMOUSeffortandattainingtthegoalthatselfesteem,

selfconfidenceandasenseofpowerareacquired.Whenonedoesnot

have

adequate

opportunity

to

go

throughout

the

power

process

the

consequencesare(dependingontheindividualandonthewaythepower

processisdisrupted)boredom,demoralization,lowselfesteem,

inferiorityfeelings,defeatism,depression,anxiety,guilt,


12/72

frustration,hostility,spouseorchildabuse,insatiablehedonism,

abnormalsexualbehavior,sleepdisorders,eatingdisorders,etc.[6]

SOURCESOFSOCIALPROBLEMS

45.Anyoftheforegoingsymptomscanoccurinanysociety,butin

modernindustrialsocietytheyarepresentonamassivescale.We

aren'tthefirsttomentionthattheworldtodayseemstobegoing

crazy.Thissortofthingisnotnormalforhumansocieties.Thereis

goodreasontobelievethatprimitivemansufferedfromlessstress

andfrustrationandwasbettersatisfiedwithhiswayoflifethan

modernmanis.Itistruethatnotallwassweetnessandlightin

primitivesocieties.AbuseofwomenandcommonamongtheAustralian

aborigines,transexualitywasfairlycommonamongsomeoftheAmerican

Indiantribes.

But

is

does

appear

that

GENERALLY

SPEAKING

the

kinds

of

problemsthatwehavelistedintheprecedingparagraphwerefarless

commonamongprimitivepeoplesthantheyareinmodernsociety.

46.Weattributethesocialandpsychologicalproblemsofmodern

societytothefactthatthatsocietyrequirespeopletoliveunder

conditionsradicallydifferentfromthoseunderwhichthehumanrace

evolvedandtobehaveinwaysthatconflictwiththepatternsof

behaviorthatthehumanracedevelopedwhilelivingundertheearlier

conditions.Itisclearfromwhatwehavealreadywrittenthatwe

considerlack

of

opportunity

to

properly

experience

the

power

process

asthemostimportantoftheabnormalconditionstowhichmodern

societysubjectspeople.Butitisnottheonlyone.Beforedealing

withdisruptionofthepowerprocessasasourceofsocialproblemswe

willdiscusssomeoftheothersources.

47.Amongtheabnormalconditionspresentinmodernindustrialsociety

areexcessivedensityofpopulation,isolationofmanfromnature,

excessiverapidityofsocialchangeandthebreakdownofnatural

smallscalecommunitiessuchastheextendedfamily,thevillageor

thetribe.

48.Itiswellknownthatcrowdingincreasesstressandaggression.

Thedegreeofcrowdingthatexiststodayandtheisolationofmanfrom

natureareconsequencesoftechnologicalprogress.Allpreindustrial

societieswerepredominantlyrural.TheindustrialRevolutionvastly

increasedthesizeofcitiesandtheproportionofthepopulationthat

livesinthem,andmodernagriculturaltechnologyhasmadeitpossible

fortheEarthtosupportafardenserpopulationthaniteverdid

before.(Also,technologyexacerbatestheeffectsofcrowdingbecause

it

puts

increased

disruptive

powers

in

people's

hands.

For

example,

a

varietyofnoisemakingdevices:powermowers,radios,motorcycles,

etc.Iftheuseofthesedevicesisunrestricted,peoplewhowant

peaceandquietarefrustratedbythenoise.Iftheiruseis


13/72

restricted,peoplewhousethedevicesarefrustratedbythe

regulations...Butifthesemachineshadneverbeeninventedthere

wouldhavebeennoconflictandnofrustrationgeneratedbythem.)

49.Forprimitivesocietiesthenaturalworld(whichusuallychanges

onlyslowly)providedastableframeworkandthereforeasenseof

security.Inthemodernworlditishumansocietythatdominates

naturerather

than

the

other

way

around,

and

modern

society

changes

veryrapidlyowingtotechnologicalchange.Thusthereisnostable

framework.

50.Theconservativesarefools:Theywhineaboutthedecayof

traditionalvalues,yettheyenthusiasticallysupporttechnological

progressandeconomicgrowth.Apparentlyitneveroccurstothemthat

youcan'tmakerapid,drasticchangesinthetechnologyandthe

economyofasocietywithoutcausingrapidchangesinallother

aspectsofthesocietyaswell,andthatsuchrapidchangesinevitably

breakdown

traditional

values.

51.Thebreakdownoftraditionalvaluestosomeextentimpliesthe

breakdownofthebondsthatholdtogethertraditionalsmallscale

socialgroups.Thedisintegrationofsmallscalesocialgroupsisalso

promotedbythefactthatmodernconditionsoftenrequireortempt

individualstomovetonewlocations,separatingthemselvesfromtheir

communities.Beyondthat,atechnologicalsocietyHASTOweakenfamily

tiesandlocalcommunitiesifitistofunctionefficiently.Inmodern

societyanindividual'sloyaltymustbefirsttothesystemandonly

secondarilyto

asmall

scale

community,

because

ifthe

internal

loyaltiesofsmallscalesmallscalecommunitieswerestrongerthan

loyaltytothesystem,suchcommunitieswouldpursuetheirown

advantageattheexpenseofthesystem.

52.Supposethatapublicofficialoracorporationexecutiveappoints

hiscousin,hisfriendorhiscoreligionisttoapositionratherthan

appointingthepersonbestqualifiedforthejob.Hehaspermitted

personalloyaltytosupersedehisloyaltytothesystem,andthatis

"nepotism"or"discrimination,"bothofwhichareterriblesinsin

modernsociety.

Would

be

industrial

societies

that

have

done

apoor

jobofsubordinatingpersonalorlocalloyaltiestoloyaltytothe

systemareusuallyveryinefficient.(LookatLatinAmerica.)Thusan

advancedindustrialsocietycantolerateonlythosesmallscale

communitiesthatareemasculated,tamedandmadeintotoolsofthe

system.[7]

53.Crowding,rapidchangeandthebreakdownofcommunitieshavebeen

widelyrecognizedassourcesofsocialproblems.butwedonotbelieve

theyareenoughtoaccountfortheextentoftheproblemsthatare

seen

today.

54.Afewpreindustrialcitieswereverylargeandcrowded,yettheir

inhabitantsdonotseemtohavesufferedfrompsychologicalproblems


14/72

tothesameextentasmodernman.InAmericatodaytherestillare

uncrowdedruralareas,andwefindtherethesameproblemsasinurban

areas,thoughtheproblemstendtobelessacuteintheruralareas.

Thuscrowdingdoesnotseemtobethedecisivefactor.

55.OnthegrowingedgeoftheAmericanfrontierduringthe19th

century,themobilityofthepopulationprobablybrokedownextended

familiesand

small

scale

social

groups

to

at

least

the

same

extent

as

thesearebrokendowntoday.Infact,manynuclearfamilieslivedby

choiceinsuchisolation,havingnoneighborswithinseveralmiles,

thattheybelongedtonocommunityatall,yettheydonotseemto

havedevelopedproblemsasaresult.

56.Furthermore,changeinAmericanfrontiersocietywasveryrapidand

deep.Amanmightbebornandraisedinalogcabin,outsidethereach

oflawandorderandfedlargelyonwildmeat;andbythetimehe

arrivedatoldagehemightbeworkingataregularjobandlivingin

anordered

community

with

effective

law

enforcement.

This

was

adeeper

changethatthatwhichtypicallyoccursinthelifeofamodern

individual,yetitdoesnotseemtohaveledtopsychological

problems.Infact,19thcenturyAmericansocietyhadanoptimisticand

selfconfidenttone,quiteunlikethatoftoday'ssociety.[8]

57.Thedifference,weargue,isthatmodernmanhasthesense

(largelyjustified)thatchangeisIMPOSEDonhim,whereasthe19th

centuryfrontiersmanhadthesense(alsolargelyjustified)thathe

createdchangehimself,byhisownchoice.Thusapioneersettledona

pieceof

land

of

his

own

choosing

and

made

it

into

afarm

through

his

owneffort.Inthosedaysanentirecountymighthaveonlyacoupleof

hundredinhabitantsandwasafarmoreisolatedandautonomousentity

thanamoderncountyis.Hencethepioneerfarmerparticipatedasa

memberofarelativelysmallgroupinthecreationofanew,ordered

community.Onemaywellquestionwhetherthecreationofthis

communitywasanimprovement,butatanyrateitsatisfiedthe

pioneer'sneedforthepowerprocess.

58.Itwouldbepossibletogiveotherexamplesofsocietiesinwhich

therehas

been

rapid

change

and/or

lack

of

close

community

ties

withouthekindofmassivebehavioralaberrationthatisseenin

today'sindustrialsociety.Wecontendthatthemostimportantcause

ofsocialandpsychologicalproblemsinmodernsocietyisthefact

thatpeoplehaveinsufficientopportunitytogothroughthepower

processinanormalway.Wedon'tmeantosaythatmodernsocietyis

theonlyoneinwhichthepowerprocesshasbeendisrupted.Probably

mostifnotallcivilizedsocietieshaveinterferedwiththepower'

processtoagreaterorlesserextent.Butinmodernindustrial

societytheproblemhasbecomeparticularlyacute.Leftism,atleast

in

its

recent

(mid

to

late

20th

century)

form,

is

in

part

a

symptom

ofdeprivationwithrespecttothepowerprocess.


15/72

DISRUPTIONOFTHEPOWERPROCESSINMODERNSOCIETY

59.Wedividehumandrivesintothreegroups:(1)thosedrivesthat

canbesatisfiedwithminimaleffort;(2)thosethatcanbesatisfied

butonlyatthecostofseriouseffort;(3)thosethatcannotbe

adequatelysatisfied

no

matter

how

much

effort

one

makes.

The

power

processistheprocessofsatisfyingthedrivesofthesecondgroup.

Themoredrivesthereareinthethirdgroup,themorethereis

frustration,anger,eventuallydefeatism,depression,etc.

60.Inmodernindustrialsocietynaturalhumandrivestendtobe

pushedintothefirstandthirdgroups,andthesecondgrouptendsto

consistincreasinglyofartificiallycreateddrives.

61.Inprimitivesocieties,physicalnecessitiesgenerallyfallinto

group2:

They

can

be

obtained,

but

only

at

the

cost

of

serious

effort.

Butmodernsocietytendstoguarantythephysicalnecessitiesto

everyone[9]inexchangeforonlyminimaleffort,hencephysicalneeds

arepushedintogroup1.(Theremaybedisagreementaboutwhetherthe

effortneededtoholdajobis"minimal";butusually,inlower to

middleleveljobs,whatevereffortisrequiredismerelythatof

obedience.Yousitorstandwhereyouaretoldtositorstandanddo

whatyouaretoldtodointhewayyouaretoldtodoit.Seldomdo

youhavetoexertyourselfseriously,andinanycaseyouhavehardly

anyautonomyinwork,sothattheneedforthepowerprocessisnot

wellserved.)

62.Socialneeds,suchassex,loveandstatus,oftenremainingroup

2inmodernsociety,dependingonthesituationoftheindividual.

[10]But,exceptforpeoplewhohaveaparticularlystrongdrivefor

status,theeffortrequiredtofulfillthesocialdrivesis

insufficienttosatisfyadequatelytheneedforthepowerprocess.

63.Socertainartificialneedshavebeencreatedthatfallintogroup

2,henceservetheneedforthepowerprocess.Advertisingand

marketingtechniques

have

been

developed

that

make

many

people

feel

theyneedthingsthattheirgrandparentsneverdesiredorevendreamed

of.Itrequiresseriousefforttoearnenoughmoneytosatisfythese

artificialneeds,hencetheyfallintogroup2.(Butseeparagraphs

8082.)Modernmanmustsatisfyhisneedforthepowerprocesslargely

throughpursuitoftheartificialneedscreatedbytheadvertisingand

marketingindustry[11],andthroughsurrogateactivities.

64.Itseemsthatformanypeople,maybethemajority,these

artificialformsofthepowerprocessareinsufficient.Athemethat

appears

repeatedly

in

the

writings

of

the

social

critics

of

the

second

halfofthe20thcenturyisthesenseofpurposelessnessthatafflicts

manypeopleinmodernsociety.(Thispurposelessnessisoftencalled

byothernamessuchas"anomic"or"middleclassvacuity.")Wesuggest


16/72

thatthesocalled"identitycrisis"isactuallyasearchforasense

ofpurpose,oftenforcommitmenttoasuitablesurrogateactivity.It

maybethatexistentialismisinlargepartaresponsetothe

purposelessnessofmodernlife.[12]Verywidespreadinmodernsociety

isthesearchfor"fulfillment."Butwethinkthatforthemajorityof

peopleanactivitywhosemaingoalisfulfillment(thatis,a

surrogateactivity)doesnotbringcompletelysatisfactory

fulfillment.In

other

words,

it

does

not

fully

satisfy

the

need

for

thepowerprocess.(Seeparagraph41.)Thatneedcanbefully

satisfiedonlythroughactivitiesthathavesomeexternalgoal,such

asphysicalnecessities,sex,love,status,revenge,etc.

65.Moreover,wheregoalsarepursuedthroughearningmoney,climbing

thestatusladderorfunctioningaspartofthesysteminsomeother

way,mostpeoplearenotinapositiontopursuetheirgoals

AUTONOMOUSLY.Mostworkersaresomeoneelse'semployeeas,aswe

pointedoutinparagraph61,mustspendtheirdaysdoingwhattheyare

toldto

do

in

the

way

they

are

told

to

do

it.

Even

most

people

who

are

inbusinessforthemselveshaveonlylimitedautonomy.Itisachronic

complaintofsmallbusinesspersonsandentrepreneursthattheirhands

aretiedbyexcessivegovernmentregulation.Someoftheseregulations

aredoubtlessunnecessary,butforthemostpartgovernment

regulationsareessentialandinevitablepartsofourextremely

complexsociety.Alargeportionofsmallbusinesstodayoperateson

thefranchisesystem.ItwasreportedintheWallStreetJournalafew

yearsagothatmanyofthefranchisegrantingcompaniesrequire

applicantsforfranchisestotakeapersonalitytestthatisdesigned

toEXCLUDE

those

who

have

creativity

and

initiative,

because

such

personsarenotsufficientlydociletogoalongobedientlywiththe

franchisesystem.Thisexcludesfromsmallbusinessmanyofthepeople

whomostneedautonomy.

66.TodaypeoplelivemorebyvirtueofwhatthesystemdoesFORthem

orTOthemthanbyvirtueofwhattheydoforthemselves.Andwhat

theydoforthemselvesisdonemoreandmorealongchannelslaiddown

bythesystem.Opportunitiestendtobethosethatthesystem

provides,theopportunitiesmustbeexploitedinaccordwiththerules

andregulations

[13],

and

techniques

prescribed

by

experts

must

be

followedifthereistobeachanceofsuccess.

67.Thusthepowerprocessisdisruptedinoursocietythrougha

deficiencyofrealgoalsandadeficiencyofautonomyinpursuitof

goals.Butitisalsodisruptedbecauseofthosehumandrivesthat

fallintogroup3:thedrivesthatonecannotadequatelysatisfyno

matterhowmucheffortonemakes.Oneofthesedrivesistheneedfor

security.Ourlivesdependondecisionsmadebyotherpeople;wehave

nocontroloverthesedecisionsandusuallywedonotevenknowthe

people

who

make

them.

("We

live

in

a

world

in

which

relatively

few

people maybe500or1,00 maketheimportantdecisions" PhilipB.

HeymannofHarvardLawSchool,quotedbyAnthonyLewis,NewYork

Times,April21,1995.)Ourlivesdependonwhethersafetystandards


17/72

atanuclearpowerplantareproperlymaintained;onhowmuch

pesticideisallowedtogetintoourfoodorhowmuchpollutioninto

ourair;onhowskillful(orincompetent)ourdoctoris;whetherwe

loseorgetajobmaydependondecisionsmadebygovernment

economistsorcorporationexecutives;andsoforth.Mostindividuals

arenotinapositiontosecurethemselvesagainstthesethreatsto

more[than]averylimitedextent.Theindividual'ssearchfor

securityis

therefore

frustrated,

which

leads

to

asense

of

powerlessness.

68.Itmaybeobjectedthatprimitivemanisphysicallylesssecure

thanmodernman,asisshownbyhisshorterlifeexpectancy;hence

modernmansuffersfromless,notmorethantheamountofinsecurity

thatisnormalforhumanbeings.butpsychologicalsecuritydoesnot

closelycorrespondwithphysicalsecurity.WhatmakesusFEELsecure

isnotsomuchobjectivesecurityasasenseofconfidenceinour

abilitytotakecareofourselves.Primitiveman,threatenedbya

fierceanimal

or

by

hunger,

can

fight

in

self

defense

or

travel

in

searchoffood.Hehasnocertaintyofsuccessintheseefforts,but

heisbynomeanshelplessagainstthethingsthatthreatenhim.The

modernindividualontheotherhandisthreatenedbymanythings

againstwhichheishelpless;nuclearaccidents,carcinogensinfood,

environmentalpollution,war,increasingtaxes,invasionofhis

privacybylargeorganizations,nationwidesocialoreconomic

phenomenathatmaydisrupthiswayoflife.

69.Itistruethatprimitivemanispowerlessagainstsomeofthe

thingsthat

threaten

him;

disease

for

example.

But

he

can

accept

the

riskofdiseasestoically.Itispartofthenatureofthings,itis

noone'sfault,unlessisthefaultofsomeimaginary,impersonal

demon.ButthreatstothemodernindividualtendtobeMANMADE.They

arenottheresultsofchancebutareIMPOSEDonhimbyotherpersons

whosedecisionshe,asanindividual,isunabletoinfluence.

Consequentlyhefeelsfrustrated,humiliatedandangry.

70.Thusprimitivemanforthemostparthashissecurityinhisown

hands(eitherasanindividualorasamemberofaSMALLgroup)

whereasthe

security

of

modern

man

is

in

the

hands

of

persons

or

organizationsthataretooremoteortoolargeforhimtobeable

personallytoinfluencethem.Somodernman'sdriveforsecuritytends

tofallintogroups1and3;insomeareas(food,shelter,etc.)his

securityisassuredatthecostofonlytrivialeffort,whereasin

otherareasheCANNOTattainsecurity.(Theforegoinggreatly

simplifiestherealsituation,butitdoesindicateinarough,

generalwayhowtheconditionofmodernmandiffersfromthatof

primitiveman.)

71.

People

have

many

transitory

drives

or

impulses

that

are

necessary

frustratedinmodernlife,hencefallintogroup3.Onemaybecome

angry,butmodernsocietycannotpermitfighting.Inmanysituations

itdoesnotevenpermitverbalaggression.Whengoingsomewhereone


18/72

maybeinahurry,oronemaybeinamoodtotravelslowly,butone

generallyhasnochoicebuttomovewiththeflowoftrafficandobey

thetrafficsignals.Onemaywanttodoone'sworkinadifferentway,

butusuallyonecanworkonlyaccordingtotheruleslaiddownby

one'semployer.Inmanyotherwaysaswell,modernmanisstrapped

downbyanetworkofrulesandregulations(explicitorimplicit)that

frustratemanyofhisimpulsesandthusinterferewiththepower

process.Most

of

these

regulations

cannot

be

disposed

with,

because

thearenecessaryforthefunctioningofindustrialsociety.

72.Modernsocietyisincertainrespectsextremelypermissive.In

mattersthatareirrelevanttothefunctioningofthesystemwecan

generallydowhatweplease.Wecanbelieveinanyreligionwelike

(aslongasitdoesnotencouragebehaviorthatisdangeroustothe

system).Wecangotobedwithanyonewelike(aslongaswepractice

"safesex").WecandoanythingwelikeaslongasitisUNIMPORTANT.

ButinallIMPORTANTmattersthesystemtendsincreasinglytoregulate

ourbehavior.

73.Behaviorisregulatednotonlythroughexplicitrulesandnotonly

bythegovernment.Controlisoftenexercisedthroughindirect

coercionorthroughpsychologicalpressureormanipulation,andby

organizationsotherthanthegovernment,orbythesystemasawhole.

Mostlargeorganizationsusesomeformofpropaganda[14]to

manipulatepublicattitudesorbehavior.Propagandaisnotlimitedto

"commercials"andadvertisements,andsometimesitisnoteven

consciouslyintendedaspropagandabythepeoplewhomakeit.For

instance,the

content

of

entertainment

programming

is

apowerful

form

ofpropaganda.Anexampleofindirectcoercion:Thereisnolawthat

sayswehavetogotoworkeverydayandfollowouremployer'sorders.

Legallythereisnothingtopreventusfromgoingtoliveinthewild

likeprimitivepeopleorfromgoingintobusinessforourselves.But

inpracticethereisverylittlewildcountryleft,andthereisroom

intheeconomyforonlyalimitednumberofsmallbusinessowners.

Hencemostofuscansurviveonlyassomeoneelse'semployee.

74.Wesuggestthatmodernman'sobsessionwithlongevity,andwith

maintainingphysical

vigor

and

sexual

attractiveness

to

an

advanced

age,isasymptomofunfulfillmentresultingfromdeprivationwith

respecttothepowerprocess.The"midlifecrisis"alsoissucha

symptom.Soisthelackofinterestinhavingchildrenthatisfairly

commoninmodernsocietybutalmostunheardofinprimitivesocieties.

75.Inprimitivesocietieslifeisasuccessionofstages.Theneeds

andpurposesofonestagehavingbeenfulfilled,thereisno

particularreluctanceaboutpassingontothenextstage.Ayoungman

goes

through

the

power

process

by

becoming

a

hunter,

hunting

not

for

sportorforfulfillmentbuttogetmeatthatisnecessaryforfood.

(Inyoungwomentheprocessismorecomplex,withgreateremphasison

socialpower;wewon'tdiscussthathere.)Thisphasehavingbeen


19/72

successfullypassedthrough,theyoungmanhasnoreluctanceabout

settlingdowntotheresponsibilitiesofraisingafamily.(In

contrast,somemodernpeopleindefinitelypostponehavingchildren

becausetheyaretoobusyseekingsomekindof"fulfillment."We

suggestthatthefulfillmenttheyneedisadequateexperienceofthe

powerprocess withrealgoalsinsteadoftheartificialgoalsof

surrogateactivities.)Again,havingsuccessfullyraisedhischildren,

goingthrough

the

power

process

by

providing

them

with

the

physical

necessities,theprimitivemanfeelsthathisworkisdoneandheis

preparedtoacceptoldage(ifhesurvivesthatlong)anddeath.Many

modernpeople,ontheotherhand,aredisturbedbytheprospectof

death,asisshownbytheamountofefforttheyexpendtryingto

maintaintheirphysicalcondition,appearanceandhealth.Weargue

thatthisisduetounfulfillmentresultingfromthefactthatthey

haveneverputtheirphysicalpowerstoanyuse,havenevergone

throughthepowerprocessusingtheirbodiesinaseriousway.Itis

nottheprimitiveman,whohasusedhisbodydailyforpractical

purposes,who

fears

the

deterioration

of

age,

but

the

modern

man,

who

hasneverhadapracticaluseforhisbodybeyondwalkingfromhiscar

tohishouse.Itisthemanwhoseneedforthepowerprocesshasbeen

satisfiedduringhislifewhoisbestpreparedtoaccepttheendof

thatlife.

76.Inresponsetotheargumentsofthissectionsomeonewillsay,

"Societymustfindawaytogivepeopletheopportunitytogothrough

thepowerprocess."Forsuchpeoplethevalueoftheopportunityis

destroyedbytheveryfactthatsocietygivesittothem.Whatthey

needis

to

find

or

make

their

own

opportunities.

As

long

as

the

system

GIVESthemtheiropportunitiesitstillhasthemonaleash.Toattain

autonomytheymustgetoffthatleash.

HOWSOMEPEOPLEADJUST

77.Noteveryoneinindustrialtechnologicalsocietysuffersfrom

psychologicalproblems.

Some

people

even

profess

to

be

quite

satisfied

withsocietyasitis.Wenowdiscusssomeofthereasonswhypeople

differsogreatlyintheirresponsetomodernsociety.

78.First,theredoubtlessaredifferencesinthestrengthofthe

driveforpower.Individualswithaweakdriveforpowermayhave

relativelylittleneedtogothroughthepowerprocess,oratleast

relativelylittleneedforautonomyinthepowerprocess.Theseare

dociletypeswhowouldhavebeenhappyasplantationdarkiesinthe

OldSouth.(Wedon'tmeantosneerat"plantationdarkies"oftheOld

South.

To

their

credit,

most

of

the

slaves

were

NOT

content

with

their

servitude.WedosneeratpeoplewhoAREcontentwithservitude.)

79.Somepeoplemayhavesomeexceptionaldrive,inpursuingwhich


20/72

theysatisfytheirneedforthepowerprocess.Forexample,thosewho

haveanunusuallystrongdriveforsocialstatusmayspendtheirwhole

livesclimbingthestatusladderwithoutevergettingboredwiththat

game.

80.Peoplevaryintheirsusceptibilitytoadvertisingandmarketing

techniques.Somepeoplearesosusceptiblethat,eveniftheymakea

greatdeal

of

money,

they

cannot

satisfy

their

constant

craving

for

theshinynewtoysthatthemarketingindustrydanglesbeforetheir

eyes.Sotheyalwaysfeelhardpressedfinanciallyeveniftheir

incomeislarge,andtheircravingsarefrustrated.

81.Somepeoplehavelowsusceptibilitytoadvertisingandmarketing

techniques.Thesearethepeoplewhoaren'tinterestedinmoney.

Materialacquisitiondoesnotservetheirneedforthepowerprocess.

82.Peoplewhohavemediumsusceptibilitytoadvertisingandmarketing

techniquesare

able

to

earn

enough

money

to

satisfy

their

craving

for

goodsandservices,butonlyatthecostofseriouseffort(puttingin

overtime,takingasecondjob,earningpromotions,etc.)Thusmaterial

acquisitionservestheirneedforthepowerprocess.Butitdoesnot

necessarilyfollowthattheirneedisfullysatisfied.Theymayhave

insufficientautonomyinthepowerprocess(theirworkmayconsistof

followingorders)andsomeoftheirdrivesmaybefrustrated(e.g.,

security,aggression).(Weareguiltyofoversimplificationin

paragraphs8082becausewehaveassumedthatthedesireformaterial

acquisitionisentirelyacreationoftheadvertisingandmarketing

industry.Of

course

it's

not

that

simple.

83.Somepeoplepartlysatisfytheirneedforpowerbyidentifying

themselveswithapowerfulorganizationormassmovement.An

individuallackinggoalsorpowerjoinsamovementoranorganization,

adoptsitsgoalsashisown,thenworkstowardthesegoals.Whensome

ofthegoalsareattained,theindividual,eventhoughhispersonal

effortshaveplayedonlyaninsignificantpartintheattainmentof

thegoals,feels(throughhisidentificationwiththemovementor

organization)asifhehadgonethroughthepowerprocess.This

phenomenonwas

exploited

by

the

fascists,

nazis

and

communists.

Our

societyusesit,too,thoughlesscrudely.Example:ManuelNoriegawas

anirritanttotheU.S.(goal:punishNoriega).TheU.S.invaded

Panama(effort)andpunishedNoriega(attainmentofgoal).TheU.S.

wentthroughthepowerprocessandmanyAmericans,becauseoftheir

identificationwiththeU.S.,experiencedthepowerprocess

vicariously.HencethewidespreadpublicapprovalofthePanama

invasion;itgavepeopleasenseofpower.[15]Weseethesame

phenomenoninarmies,corporations,politicalparties,humanitarian

organizations,religiousorideologicalmovements.Inparticular,

leftist

movements

tend

to

attract

people

who

are

seeking

to

satisfy

theirneedforpower.Butformostpeopleidentificationwithalarge

organizationoramassmovementdoesnotfullysatisfytheneedfor

power.


21/72

84.Anotherwayinwhichpeoplesatisfytheirneedforthepower

processisthroughsurrogateactivities.Asweexplainedinparagraphs

3840,asurrogateactivitythatisdirectedtowardanartificialgoal

thattheindividualpursuesforthesakeofthe"fulfillment"thathe

getsfrompursuingthegoal,notbecauseheneedstoattainthegoal

itself.Forinstance,thereisnopracticalmotiveforbuilding

enormousmuscles,

hitting

alittle

ball

into

ahole

or

acquiring

a

completeseriesofpostagestamps.Yetmanypeopleinoursociety

devotethemselveswithpassiontobodybuilding,golforstamp

collecting.Somepeoplearemore"otherdirected"thanothers,and

thereforewillmorereadilyattackimportancetoasurrogateactivity

simplybecausethepeoplearoundthemtreatitasimportantorbecause

societytellsthemitisimportant.Thatiswhysomepeoplegetvery

seriousaboutessentiallytrivialactivitiessuchassports,or

bridge,orchess,orarcanescholarlypursuits,whereasotherswhoare

moreclearsightedneverseethesethingsasanythingbutthe

surrogateactivities

that

they

are,

and

consequently

never

attach

enoughimportancetothemtosatisfytheirneedforthepowerprocess

inthatway.Itonlyremainstopointoutthatinmanycasesa

person'swayofearningalivingisalsoasurrogateactivity.Nota

PUREsurrogateactivity,sincepartofthemotivefortheactivityis

togainthephysicalnecessitiesand(forsomepeople)socialstatus

andtheluxuriesthatadvertisingmakesthemwant.Butmanypeopleput

intotheirworkfarmoreeffortthanisnecessarytoearnwhatever

moneyandstatustheyrequire,andthisextraeffortconstitutesa

surrogateactivity.Thisextraeffort,togetherwiththeemotional

investmentthat

accompanies

it,

is

one

of

the

most

potent

forces

actingtowardthecontinualdevelopmentandperfectingofthesystem,

withnegativeconsequencesforindividualfreedom(seeparagraph131).

Especially,forthemostcreativescientistsandengineers,worktends

tobelargelyasurrogateactivity.Thispointissoimportantthatis

deservesaseparatediscussion,whichweshallgiveinamoment

(paragraphs8792).

85.Inthissectionwehaveexplainedhowmanypeopleinmodern

societydosatisfytheirneedforthepowerprocesstoagreateror

lesserextent.

But

we

think

that

for

the

majority

of

people

the

need

forthepowerprocessisnotfullysatisfied.Inthefirstplace,

thosewhohaveaninsatiabledriveforstatus,orwhogetfirmly

"hooked"orasurrogateactivity,orwhoidentifystronglyenoughwith

amovementororganizationtosatisfytheirneedforpowerinthat

way,areexceptionalpersonalities.Othersarenotfullysatisfied

withsurrogateactivitiesorbyidentificationwithanorganization

(seeparagraphs41,64).Inthesecondplace,toomuchcontrolis

imposedbythesystemthroughexplicitregulationorthrough

socialization,whichresultsinadeficiencyofautonomy,andin

frustration

due

to

the

impossibility

of

attaining

certain

goals

and

thenecessityofrestrainingtoomanyimpulses.


22/72

86.Butevenifmostpeopleinindustrialtechnologicalsocietywere

wellsatisfied,we(FC)wouldstillbeopposedtothatformof

society,because(amongotherreasons)weconsideritdemeaningto

fulfillone'sneedforthepowerprocessthroughsurrogateactivities

orthroughidentificationwithanorganization,ratherthenthrough

pursuitofrealgoals.

THEMOTIVESOFSCIENTISTS

87.Scienceandtechnologyprovidethemostimportantexamplesof

surrogateactivities.Somescientistsclaimthattheyaremotivatedby

"curiosity,"thatnotionissimplyabsurd.Mostscientistsworkon

highlyspecializedproblemthatarenottheobjectofanynormal

curiosity.Forexample,isanastronomer,amathematicianoran

entomologistcurious

about

the

properties

of

isopropyltrimethylmethane?Ofcoursenot.Onlyachemistiscurious

aboutsuchathing,andheiscuriousaboutitonlybecausechemistry

ishissurrogateactivity.Isthechemistcuriousaboutthe

appropriateclassificationofanewspeciesofbeetle?No.That

questionisofinterestonlytotheentomologist,andheisinterested

initonlybecauseentomologyishissurrogateactivity.Ifthe

chemistandtheentomologisthadtoexertthemselvesseriouslyto

obtainthephysicalnecessities,andifthateffortexercisedtheir

abilitiesinaninterestingwaybutinsomenonscientificpursuit,

thenthey

couldn't

giver

adamn

about

isopropyltrimethylmethane

or

the

classificationofbeetles.Supposethatlackoffundsforpostgraduate

educationhadledthechemisttobecomeaninsurancebrokerinsteadof

achemist.Inthatcasehewouldhavebeenveryinterestedin

insurancemattersbutwouldhavecarednothingabout

isopropyltrimethylmethane.Inanycaseitisnotnormaltoputinto

thesatisfactionofmerecuriositytheamountoftimeandeffortthat

scientistsputintotheirwork.The"curiosity"explanationforthe

scientists'motivejustdoesn'tstandup.

88.The

"benefit

of

humanity"

explanation

doesn't

work

any

better.

Somescientificworkhasnoconceivablerelationtothewelfareofthe

humanrace mostofarchaeologyorcomparativelinguisticsfor

example.Someotherareasofsciencepresentobviouslydangerous

possibilities.Yetscientistsintheseareasarejustasenthusiastic

abouttheirworkasthosewhodevelopvaccinesorstudyairpollution.

ConsiderthecaseofDr.EdwardTeller,whohadanobviousemotional

involvementinpromotingnuclearpowerplants.Didthisinvolvement

stemfromadesiretobenefithumanity?Ifso,thenwhydidn'tDr.

Tellergetemotionalaboutother"humanitarian"causes?Ifhewassuch

a

humanitarian

then

why

did

he

help

to

develop

the

H

bomb?

As

with

manyotherscientificachievements,itisverymuchopentoquestion

whethernuclearpowerplantsactuallydobenefithumanity.Doesthe

cheapelectricityoutweightheaccumulatingwasteandriskof


23/72

accidents?Dr.Tellersawonlyonesideofthequestion.Clearlyhis

emotionalinvolvementwithnuclearpowerarosenotfromadesireto

"benefithumanity"butfromapersonalfulfillmenthegotfromhis

workandfromseeingitputtopracticaluse.

89.Thesameistrueofscientistsgenerally.Withpossiblerare

exceptions,theirmotiveisneithercuriositynoradesiretobenefit

humanitybut

the

need

to

go

through

the

power

process:

to

have

agoal

(ascientificproblemtosolve),tomakeaneffort(research)andto

attainthegoal(solutionoftheproblem.)Scienceisasurrogate

activitybecausescientistsworkmainlyforthefulfillmenttheyget

outoftheworkitself.

90.Ofcourse,it'snotthatsimple.Othermotivesdoplayarolefor

manyscientists.Moneyandstatusforexample.Somescientistsmaybe

personsofthetypewhohaveaninsatiabledriveforstatus(see

paragraph79)andthismayprovidemuchofthemotivationfortheir

work.No

doubt

the

majority

of

scientists,

like

the

majority

of

the

generalpopulation,aremoreorlesssusceptibletoadvertisingand

marketingtechniquesandneedmoneytosatisfytheircravingforgoods

andservices.ThusscienceisnotaPUREsurrogateactivity.Butitis

inlargepartasurrogateactivity.

91.Also,scienceandtechnologyconstituteamasspowermovement,and

manyscientistsgratifytheirneedforpowerthroughidentification

withthismassmovement(seeparagraph83).

92.Thus

science

marches

on

blindly,

without

regard

to

the

real

welfareofthehumanraceortoanyotherstandard,obedientonlyto

thepsychologicalneedsofthescientistsandofthegovernment

officialsandcorporationexecutiveswhoprovidethefundsfor

research.

THENATUREOFFREEDOM

93.Wearegoingtoarguethatindustrialtechnologicalsocietycannot

bereformedinsuchawayastopreventitfromprogressively

narrowingthesphereofhumanfreedom.Butbecause"freedom"isaword

thatcanbeinterpretedinmanyways,wemustfirstmakeclearwhat

kindoffreedomweareconcernedwith.

94.By"freedom"wemeantheopportunitytogothroughthepower

process,withrealgoalsnottheartificialgoalsofsurrogate

activities,andwithoutinterference,manipulationorsupervisionfrom

anyone,

especially

from

any

large

organization.

Freedom

means

being

in

control(eitherasanindividualorasamemberofaSMALLgroup)of

thelifeanddeathissuesofone'sexistence;food,clothing,shelter

anddefenseagainstwhateverthreatstheremaybeinone's


24/72

environment.Freedommeanshavingpower;notthepowertocontrol

otherpeoplebutthepowertocontrolthecircumstancesofone'sown

life.Onedoesnothavefreedomifanyoneelse(especiallyalarge

organization)haspoweroverone,nomatterhowbenevolently,

tolerantlyandpermissivelythatpowermaybeexercised.Itis

importantnottoconfusefreedomwithmerepermissiveness(see

paragraph72).

95.Itissaidthatweliveinafreesocietybecausewehavea

certainnumberofconstitutionallyguaranteedrights.Buttheseare

notasimportantastheyseem.Thedegreeofpersonalfreedomthat

existsinasocietyisdeterminedmorebytheeconomicand

technologicalstructureofthesocietythanbyitslawsoritsformof

government.[16]MostoftheIndiannationsofNewEnglandwere

monarchies,andmanyofthecitiesoftheItalianRenaissancewere

controlledbydictators.Butinreadingaboutthesesocietiesonegets

theimpressionthattheyallowedfarmorepersonalfreedomthanout

societydoes.

In

part

this

was

because

they

lacked

efficient

mechanismsforenforcingtheruler'swill:Therewerenomodern,

wellorganizedpoliceforces,norapidlongdistancecommunications,

nosurveillancecameras,nodossiersofinformationaboutthelivesof

averagecitizens.Henceitwasrelativelyeasytoevadecontrol.

96.Asforourconstitutionalrights,considerforexamplethatof

freedomofthepress.Wecertainlydon'tmeantoknockthatright:it

isveryimportanttoolforlimitingconcentrationofpoliticalpower

andforkeepingthosewhodohavepoliticalpowerinlinebypublicly

exposingany

misbehavior

on

their

part.

But

freedom

of

the

press

is

of

verylittleusetotheaveragecitizenasanindividual.Themass

mediaaremostlyunderthecontroloflargeorganizationsthatare

integratedintothesystem.Anyonewhohasalittlemoneycanhave

somethingprinted,orcandistributeitontheInternetorinsome

suchway,butwhathehastosaywillbeswampedbythevastvolumeof

materialputoutbythemedia,henceitwillhavenopracticaleffect.

Tomakeanimpressiononsocietywithwordsisthereforealmost

impossibleformostindividualsandsmallgroups.Takeus(FC)for

example.Ifwehadneverdoneanythingviolentandhadsubmittedthe

presentwritings

to

apublisher,

they

probably

would

not

have

been

accepted.Iftheyhadbeenacceptedandpublished,theyprobablywould

nothaveattractedmanyreaders,becauseit'smorefuntowatchthe

entertainmentputoutbythemediathantoreadasoberessay.Evenif

thesewritingshadhadmanyreaders,mostofthesereaderswouldsoon

haveforgottenwhattheyhadreadastheirmindswerefloodedbythe

massofmaterialtowhichthemediaexposethem.Inordertogetour

messagebeforethepublicwithsomechanceofmakingalasting

impression,we'vehadtokillpeople.

97.

Constitutional

rights

are

useful

up

to

a

point,

but

they

do

not

servetoguaranteemuchmorethanwhatcouldbecalledthebourgeois

conceptionoffreedom.Accordingtothebourgeoisconception,a"free"

manisessentiallyanelementofasocialmachineandhasonlya


25/72

certainsetofprescribedanddelimitedfreedoms;freedomsthatare

designedtoservetheneedsofthesocialmachinemorethanthoseof

theindividual.Thusthebourgeois's"free"manhaseconomicfreedom

becausethatpromotesgrowthandprogress;hehasfreedomofthepress

becausepubliccriticismrestrainsmisbehaviorbypoliticalleaders;

hehasarightstoafairtrialbecauseimprisonmentatthewhimof

thepowerfulwouldbebadforthesystem.Thiswasclearlythe

attitudeof

Simon

Bolivar.

To

him,

people

deserved

liberty

only

if

theyusedittopromoteprogress(progressasconceivedbythe

bourgeois).Otherbourgeoisthinkershavetakenasimilarviewof

freedomasameremeanstocollectiveends.ChesterC.Tan,"Chinese

PoliticalThoughtintheTwentiethCentury,"page202,explainsthe

philosophyoftheKuomintangleaderHuHanmin:"Anindividualis

grantedrightsbecauseheisamemberofsocietyandhiscommunity

liferequiressuchrights.BycommunityHumeantthewholesocietyof

thenation."Andonpage259TanstatesthataccordingtoCarsumChang

(ChangChunmai,headoftheStateSocialistPartyinChina)freedom

hadto

be

used

in

the

interest

of

the

state

and

of

the

people

as

a

whole.Butwhatkindoffreedomdoesonehaveifonecanuseitonly

assomeoneelseprescribes?FC'sconceptionoffreedomisnotthatof

Bolivar,Hu,Changorotherbourgeoistheorists.Thetroublewithsuch

theoristsisthattheyhavemadethedevelopmentandapplicationof

socialtheoriestheirsurrogateactivity.Consequentlythetheories

aredesignedtoservetheneedsofthetheoristsmorethantheneeds

ofanypeoplewhomaybeunluckyenoughtoliveinasocietyonwhich

thetheoriesareimposed.

98.One

more

point

to

be

made

in

this

section:

It

should

not

be

assumedthatapersonhasenoughfreedomjustbecauseheSAYShehas

enough.Freedomisrestrictedinpartbypsychologicalcontrolof

whichpeopleareunconscious,andmoreovermanypeople'sideasofwhat

constitutesfreedomaregovernedmorebysocialconventionthanby

theirrealneeds.Forexample,it'slikelythatmanyleftistsofthe

oversocializedtypewouldsaythatmostpeople,includingthemselves

aresocializedtoolittleratherthantoomuch,yettheoversocialized

leftistpaysaheavypsychologicalpriceforhishighlevelof

socialization.

SOMEPRINCIPLESOFHISTORY

99.Thinkofhistoryasbeingthesumoftwocomponents:anerratic

componentthatconsistsofunpredictableeventsthatfollowno

discerniblepattern,andaregularcomponentthatconsistsof

longtermhistoricaltrends.Hereweareconcernedwiththelongterm

trends.

100.FIRSTPRINCIPLE.IfaSMALLchangeismadethataffectsa

longtermhistoricaltrend,thentheeffectofthatchangewillalmost


26/72

alwaysbetransitory thetrendwillsoonreverttoitsoriginal

state.(Example:Areformmovementdesignedtocleanuppolitical

corruptioninasocietyrarelyhasmorethanashorttermeffect;

soonerorlaterthereformersrelaxandcorruptioncreepsbackin.The

levelofpoliticalcorruptioninagivensocietytendstoremain

constant,ortochangeonlyslowlywiththeevolutionofthesociety.

Normally,apoliticalcleanupwillbepermanentonlyifaccompaniedby

widespreadsocial

changes;

aSMALL

change

in

the

society

won't

be

enough.)Ifasmallchangeinalongtermhistoricaltrendappearsto

bepermanent,itisonlybecausethechangeactsinthedirectionin

whichthetrendisalreadymoving,sothatthetrendisnotaltered

butonlypushedastepahead.

101.Thefirstprincipleisalmostatautology.Ifatrendwerenot

stablewithrespecttosmallchanges,itwouldwanderatrandomrather

thanfollowingadefinitedirection;inotherwordsitwouldnotbea

longtermtrendatall.

102.SECONDPRINCIPLE.Ifachangeismadethatissufficientlylarge

toalterpermanentlyalongtermhistoricaltrend,thanitwillalter

thesocietyasawhole.Inotherwords,asocietyisasysteminwhich

allpartsareinterrelated,andyoucan'tpermanentlychangeany

importantpartwithoutchangealltheotherpartsaswell.

103.THIRDPRINCIPLE.Ifachangeismadethatislargeenoughto

alterpermanentlyalongtermtrend,thentheconsequencesforthe

societyasawholecannotbepredictedinadvance.(Unlessvarious

othersocieties

have

passed

through

the

same

change

and

have

all

experiencedthesameconsequences,inwhichcaseonecanpredicton

empiricalgroundsthatanothersocietythatpassesthroughthesame

changewillbeliketoexperiencesimilarconsequences.)

104.FOURTHPRINCIPLE.Anewkindofsocietycannotbedesignedon

paper.Thatis,youcannotplanoutanewformofsocietyinadvance,

thensetitupandexpectittofunctionasitwasdesignedto.

105.Thethirdandfourthprinciplesresultfromthecomplexityof

humansocieties.

A

change

in

human

behavior

will

affect

the

economy

of

asocietyanditsphysicalenvironment;theeconomywillaffectthe

environmentandviceversa,andthechangesintheeconomyandthe

environmentwillaffecthumanbehaviorincomplex,unpredictableways;

andsoforth.Thenetworkofcausesandeffectsisfartoocomplexto

beuntangledandunderstood.

106.FIFTHPRINCIPLE.Peopledonotconsciouslyandrationallychoose

theformoftheirsociety.Societiesdevelopthroughprocessesof

socialevolutionthatarenotunderrationalhumancontrol.

107.Thefifthprincipleisaconsequenceoftheotherfour.


27/72

108.Toillustrate:Bythefirstprinciple,generallyspeakingan

attemptatsocialreformeitheractsinthedirectioninwhichthe

societyisdevelopinganyway(sothatitmerelyacceleratesachange

thatwouldhaveoccurredinanycase)orelseitonlyhasatransitory

effect,sothatthesocietysoonslipsbackintoitsoldgroove.To

makealastingchangeinthedirectionofdevelopmentofanyimportant

aspectofasociety,reformisinsufficientandrevolutionis

required.(A

revolution

does

not

necessarily

involve

an

armed

uprising

ortheoverthrowofagovernment.)Bythesecondprinciple,a

revolutionneverchangesonlyoneaspectofasociety;andbythe

thirdprinciplechangesoccurthatwereneverexpectedordesiredby

therevolutionaries.Bythefourthprinciple,whenrevolutionariesor

utopianssetupanewkindofsociety,itneverworksoutasplanned.

109.TheAmericanRevolutiondoesnotprovideacounterexample.The

American"Revolution"wasnotarevolutioninoursenseoftheword,

butawarofindependencefollowedbyaratherfarreachingpolitical

reform.The

Founding

Fathers

did

not

change

the

direction

of

developmentofAmericansociety,nordidtheyaspiretodoso.They

onlyfreedthedevelopmentofAmericansocietyfromtheretarding

effectofBritishrule.Theirpoliticalreformdidnotchangeany

basictrend,butonlypushedAmericanpoliticalculturealongits

naturaldirectionofdevelopment.Britishsociety,ofwhichAmerican

societywasanoffshoot,hadbeenmovingforalongtimeinthe

directionofrepresentativedemocracy.AndpriortotheWarof

IndependencetheAmericanswerealreadypracticingasignificant

degreeofrepresentativedemocracyinthecolonialassemblies.The

politicalsystem

established

by

the

Constitution

was

modeled

on

the

Britishsystemandonthecolonialassemblies.Withmajoralteration,

tobesure thereisnodoubtthattheFoundingFatherstookavery

importantstep.ButitwasastepalongtheroadtheEnglishspeaking

worldwasalreadytraveling.TheproofisthatBritainandallofits

coloniesthatwerepopulatedpredominantlybypeopleofBritish

descentendedupwithsystemsofrepresentativedemocracyessentially

similartothatoftheUnitedStates.IftheFoundingFathershadlost

theirnerveanddeclinedtosigntheDeclarationofIndependence,our

wayoflifetodaywouldnothavebeensignificantlydifferent.Maybe

wewould

have

had

somewhat

closer

ties

to

Britain,

and

would

have

had

aParliamentandPrimeMinisterinsteadofaCongressandPresident.

Nobigdeal.ThustheAmericanRevolutionprovidesnota

counterexampletoourprinciplesbutagoodillustrationofthem.

110.Still,onehastousecommonsenseinapplyingtheprinciples.

Theyareexpressedinimpreciselanguagethatallowslatitudefor

interpretation,andexceptionstothemcanbefound.Sowepresent

theseprinciplesnotasinviolablelawsbutasrulesofthumb,or

guidestothinking,thatmayprovideapartialantidotetonaiveideas

about

the

future

of

society.

The

principles

should

be

borne

constantly

inmind,andwheneveronereachesaconclusionthatconflictswith

themoneshouldcarefullyreexamineone'sthinkingandretainthe

conclusiononlyifonehasgood,solidreasonsfordoingso.


28/72

INDUSTRIALTECHNOLOGICALSOCIETYCANNOTBEREFORMED

111.Theforegoingprincipleshelptoshowhowhopelesslydifficultit

wouldbetoreformtheindustrialsysteminsuchawayastoprevent

itfrom

progressively

narrowing

our

sphere

of

freedom.

There

has

been

aconsistenttendency,goingbackatleasttotheIndustrial

Revolutionfortechnologytostrengthenthesystematahighcostin

individualfreedomandlocalautonomy.Henceanychangedesignedto

protectfreedomfromtechnologywouldbecontrarytoafundamental

trendinthedevelopmentofoursociety.

Consequently,suchachangeeitherwouldbeatransitoryone soon

swampedbythetideofhistory or,iflargeenoughtobepermanent

wouldalterthenatureofourwholesociety.Thisbythefirstand

secondprinciples.

Moreover,

since

society

would

be

altered

in

away

thatcouldnotbepredictedinadvance(thirdprinciple)therewould

begreatrisk.Changeslargeenoughtomakealastingdifferencein

favoroffreedomwouldnotbeinitiatedbecauseitwouldrealizedthat

theywouldgravelydisruptthesystem.Soanyattemptsatreformwould

betootimidtobeeffective.Evenifchangeslargeenoughtomakea

lastingdifferencewereinitiated,theywouldberetractedwhentheir

disruptiveeffectsbecameapparent.Thus,permanentchangesinfavor

offreedomcouldbebroughtaboutonlybypersonspreparedtoaccept

radical,dangerousandunpredictablealterationoftheentiresystem.

Inother

words,

by

revolutionaries,

not

reformers.

112.Peopleanxioustorescuefreedomwithoutsacrificingthesupposed

benefitsoftechnologywillsuggestnaiveschemesforsomenewformof

societythatwouldreconcilefreedomwithtechnology.Apartfromthe

factthatpeoplewhomakesuggestionsseldomproposeanypractical

meansbywhichthenewformofsocietycouldbesetupinthefirst

place,itfollowsfromthefourthprinciplethatevenifthenewform

ofsocietycouldbeonceestablished,iteitherwouldcollapseor

wouldgiveresultsverydifferentfromthoseexpected.

113.Soevenonverygeneralgroundsitseemshighlyimprobablythat

anywayofchangingsocietycouldbefoundthatwouldreconcile

freedomwithmoderntechnology.Inthenextfewsectionswewillgive

morespecificreasonsforconcludingthatfreedomandtechnological

progressareincompatible.


29/72

RESTRICTIONOFFREEDOMISUNAVOIDABLEININDUSTRIALSOCIETY

114.Asexplainedinparagraph6567,7073,modernmanisstrapped

downbyanetworkofrulesandregulations,andhisfatedependson

theactionsofpersonsremotefromhimwhosedecisionshecannot

influence.This

is

not

accidental

or

aresult

of

the

arbitrariness

of

arrogantbureaucrats.Itisnecessaryandinevitableinany

technologicallyadvancedsociety.ThesystemHASTOregulatehuman

behaviorcloselyinordertofunction.Atwork,peoplehavetodowhat

theyaretoldtodo,otherwiseproductionwouldbethrownintochaos.

BureaucraciesHAVETOberunaccordingtorigidrules.Toallowany

substantialpersonaldiscretiontolowerlevelbureaucratswould

disruptthesystemandleadtochargesofunfairnessdueto

differencesinthewayindividualbureaucratsexercisedtheir

discretion.Itistruethatsomerestrictionsonourfreedomcouldbe

eliminated,but

GENERALLY

SPEAKING

the

regulation

of

our

lives

by

largeorganizationsisnecessaryforthefunctioningof

industrialtechnologicalsociety.Theresultisasenseof

powerlessnessonthepartoftheaverageperson.Itmaybe,however,

thatformalregulationswilltendincreasinglytobereplacedby

psychologicaltoolsthatmakeuswanttodowhatthesystemrequires

ofus.(Propaganda[14],educationaltechniques,"mentalhealth"

programs,etc.)

115.ThesystemHASTOforcepeopletobehaveinwaysthatare

increasinglyremote

from

the

natural

pattern

of

human

behavior.

For

example,thesystemneedsscientists,mathematiciansandengineers.It

can'tfunctionwithoutthem.Soheavypressureisputonchildrento

excelinthesefields.Itisn'tnaturalforanadolescenthumanbeing

tospendthebulkofhistimesittingatadeskabsorbedinstudy.A

normaladolescentwantstospendhistimeinactivecontactwiththe

realworld.Amongprimitivepeoplesthethingsthatchildrenare

trainedtodoareinnaturalharmonywithnaturalhumanimpulses.

AmongtheAmericanIndians,forexample,boysweretrainedinactive

outdoorpursuits justthesortofthingsthatboyslike.Butinour

societychildren

are

pushed

into

studying

technical

subjects,

which

mostdogrudgingly.

116.Becauseoftheconstantpressurethatthesystemexertstomodify

humanbehavior,thereisagradualincreaseinthenumberofpeople

whocannotorwillnotadjusttosociety'srequirements:welfare

leeches,youthgangmembers,cultists,antigovernmentrebels,radical

environmentalistsaboteurs,dropoutsandresistersofvariouskinds.

117.Inanytechnologicallyadvancedsocietytheindividual'sfate

MUST

depend

on

decisions

that

he

personally

cannot

influence

to

any

greatextent.Atechnologicalsocietycannotbebrokendowninto

small,autonomouscommunities,becauseproductiondependsonthe

cooperationofverylargenumbersofpeopleandmachines.Sucha


30/72

societyMUSTbehighlyorganizedanddecisionsHAVETObemadethat

affectverylargenumbersofpeople.Whenadecisionaffects,say,a

millionpeople,theneachoftheaffectedindividualshas,onthe

average,onlyaonemillionthshareinmakingthedecision.What

usuallyhappensinpracticeisthatdecisionsaremadebypublic

officialsorcorporationexecutives,orbytechnicalspecialists,but

evenwhenthepublicvotesonadecisionthenumberofvoters

ordinarilyis

too

large

for

the

vote

of

any

one

individual

to

be

significant.[17]Thusmostindividualsareunabletoinfluence

measurablythemajordecisionsthataffecttheirlives.Theirisno

conceivablewaytoremedythisinatechnologicallyadvancedsociety.

Thesystemtriesto"solve"thisproblembyusingpropagandatomake

peopleWANTthedecisionsthathavebeenmadeforthem,butevenif

this"solution"werecompletelysuccessfulinmakingpeoplefeel

better,itwouldbedemeaning.

118Conservativesandsomeothersadvocatemore"localautonomy."

Localcommunities

once

did

have

autonomy,

but

such

autonomy

becomes

lessandlesspossibleaslocalcommunitiesbecomemoreenmeshedwith

anddependentonlargescalesystemslikepublicutilities,computer

networks,highwaysystems,themasscommunicationsmedia,themodern

healthcaresystem.Alsooperatingagainstautonomyisthefactthat

technologyappliedinonelocationoftenaffectspeopleatother

locationsfaraway.Thuspesticideorchemicalusenearacreekmay

contaminatethewatersupplyhundredsofmilesdownstream,andthe

greenhouseeffectaffectsthewholeworld.

119.The

system

does

not

and

cannot

exist

to

sati

unabomber's manifesto

Documents