From: alynna_serenity	Date: June 1st, 2004 01:59 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	I made corrections to typos, but still.. wow!, Incredible

I've read your story about humans existing as *ghosts in the machines* ... and I just thought, "Wow, he talks about what I also write about."

Well, I bet you get a lot of comments telling you that you have a vivid imagination -- including that you're articulate and a good storyteller.

Hmmm, there is another book I'll suggest for you to read (if ever you have time to scrounge to do so):

Right now, I'm reading Jane Jacobs' "Systems of Survival", and I'm suggesting that you should get a hold of this book and also read it.

"Systems of Survival" isn't a book of Science Fiction but it is a book of a dialogue between fictional characters who live in 20th century New York. And the dialogue involves discussing the following:

- moral values that underpin public life, which are...
- two distinct public moral syndromes--one governing commerce, the other, politics

***the word "syndrome" is a Greek word meaning "things that go together", which literally indicates a set of principles/values/virtues or symptoms***

...and the below is the list of the two moral syndromes...

MORAL SYNDROME A
Shun force
Come to voluntary agreements
Be honest
Collaborate easily with strangers and aliens
Compete
Respect contracts
Use initiative and enterprise
Be open to inventiveness and novelty
Be efficient
Promote comfort and convenience
Dissent for the sake of the task
Invest for productive purposes
Be industrious
Be thrifty
Be optimistic

MORAL SYNDROME B
Shun trading
Exert prowess
Be obedient and disciplined
Adhere to tradition
Respect hierarchy
Be loyal
Take vengeance
Deceive for the sake of the task
Make rich use of leisure
Be ostentatious
Dispense largesse
Be exclusive
Show fortitude
Be fatalistic
Treasure honor

Moral Syndrome A enspouses the values and virtues pertaining to Commerce/or the Cosmopolitan
while Moral Syndrome B enspouses the values and virtues pertaining to Government/or Guardianship

These two sets of values seem to be disparate to one another, however, they prove to be in an ultimate symbiotic relationship with one another ~because~ the two sets are parallel to one another, and they then come to overlap.

Jane Jacobs is a marvelous writer and she is a social commentator of our times (including that she is a treasure to Canada, and she has been living in Toronto since 1968). [Well, I am somewhat nationalistic when it comes to having brilliant people being a part of Canada].

Jane Jacobs' "Systems of Survival" reflects on what has come to be two systems created for the purpose of maintaining civilization. One system is that of Commerce (which is the bloodline of societies) while the other is Government (which is the protective shell of the bloodline). Commerce is the vitality of civilization while Government acts as Guardian to protect the territory, goods and services that Commerce provides as the lifeblood of civilization.

And you may be wondering why I'm suggesting for you to read "Systems of Survival". Well, the book isn't a work describing Cyborgs and stuff like that but the book reflects on two identified systems that humans have designed and (overall successfully) rely on. Also, the book reflects on cases of the breakdown of the two systems (or one or the other), which provides wonderful historical accounts that might intrigue you.

... ohhh, the book is overall wonderful since it has references to Plato's "Republic", commerce between Greek merchants and Turkish villagers during the time of *wars* between the Turks and the Greeks (which is the time of the Ottoman Empire), and there is so much more BUT...

... I won't tell you since you should read the book.

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Alrighty then,

bye for now -- :-)