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H.G. Wells and the _Outline of History_
H.G. Wells, in his "Outline of SCALE
History", around p. 815 (of the
3rd edition) discusses the
conclusion of Gibbon's "The
Decline and Fall of the Roman
Empire".
Wells uses Gibbon as
an example of the There's some irony in this in
blindness of the men that Wells "Outline" can also
of his class and be used this way... ARYAN
times.
Gibbon, writing around 1780, Wells, writing around 1920 in
wonders if the British Empire his final chapter "The Next
could fall just as Rome fell: Stage of History" argues that
a world government is
"Europe is now divided necessary and desireable.
into twelve powerful, though
unequal kingdoms, three WORLDGOV
respectable commonwealths, and a
variety of smaller, though
independent, states; the chances
of royal and ministerial talents According to Wells,
are multiplied, at least with the Gibbon is a "gentleman"
number of its rulers.... The who expects that all rulers
abuses of tyranny are restrained will naturally be "gentlemen",
by the mutual influence and fear by the nature of things.
of shame; republics have acquired
order and stability; monarchies
have imbibed the principles of
freedom, or, at least, of
moderation; and some sense of
honour and justice is introduced Wells chides Gibbon for
into the most defective being blind to the internal
constitutions by the general pressures building up that
manner of the times. In peace, would lead to the conflicts
the progress of knowledge and between the rulers and the
industry is accelerated by the ruled.
emulation of so many active
rivals: in war, the European And further: "Gibbon forgets
forces are exercised by temperate here that cannon and the
and undecisive contests." fundamentals of modern
military method came to
Europe with the Mongols."
"Europe is secure from any future
irruption of Barbarians; since, Common wishful thinking in
before they can conquer, they must SF: anyone advanced enough
cease to be barbarous..." to cross interstellar space
will be socially advanced enough
to treat us better than we've
treated "inferior" cultures in
the past.
"The Day the Earth Stood Still"
An important lesson, I think, of the "Outline":
"History has never gone simply
forward." p. 1091
The curve of history is not
smooth. Extrapolating from
current conditions is
always dangerous, since
they may be a minor
deviation from the broad
trend.
Two centuries elapsed
between Roger Bacon that
Sir Francis Bacon. Two
centuries between the idea
of science and it's
popularization.
If Roger Bacon had to
wait that long, how
can I complain if
humanity seems to be
sleepwalking?
"One cannot foretell the
surprises or disappointments the
future has in store." p. 1100
"It may be that 'private The lesson of service?
enterprise' will refuse How exactly should an
to learn the lesson of enlightened capitalist
service without some behave?
quite catastrophic Current libertarian
revolution, and that a This, seems thought would be
phase of confiscation and all too that this
amateurish socialistic prophetic. enlightenment,
government lies before us." this altruism,
should be
unnecessary.
"Human history becomes more Oft quoted.
and more a race between Like Fuller's
education and catastrophe." Choice between
"Utopia or Oblivion"
"Yet clumsily or smoothly,
the world, it seems,
progresses and will
progress."
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