Blish's "Conscience" vs. Wolfe's "Fifth Head"

Gerry Quinn · 01 Jan 2006, 17:34 · from rec.arts.sf.written.2006.mbox

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From: Gerry Quinn <gerryq at DELETETHISindigo.ie>
Subject: Re: Blish's "Conscience" vs. Wolfe's "Fifth Head"
Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 17:34:29 -0000
Message-ID: <MPG.1e2222fb1159314c98a913 at news1.eircom.net>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written
References: <1135781723.546189.19520 at g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com> <1136128612.366330.128000 at f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>

> > Contrasting the stories "A Case of Conscence" and "The Fifth Head of
> > Cerberus" on the topic of religious redemption and inherent mortal
> > flaws I am dismayed... [...]
> 
> Also when you consider the likely (or at least predictable) decline of
> Western civilization simply due to the differential birth rates, the
> hidden religious morality in this story further annoys me. 

Perceived religious morality.

> Considering
> that the least educated (and perhaps least intelligent) of the worlds
> population are vastly out-reproducing those who probably are more
> intellectually capable. How many children did Einstein have? Two? How
> many children per typical welfare mom? What does this lead to by
> geometric progression over the next few thousand years? Then it pains
> me to remember that the Church may understand this and like this just
> fine. After all the Church reached its maximum power during dark times
> of turmoil and decline. Why shouldn't the Church promote beliefs which
> could actually help to usher in such times and thus enhance its power
> and authority?

I have not heard of the Church exhorting intellectuals to use 
contraception!

Though I suspect that the idea of cloning an intellectual master race 
(if that is the platform you propose) would be abhorrent to her.

- Gerry Quinn

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