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Orwell’s 1984 and Today
Imprimis ^ | December 2020 • Volume 49, Number 12 | Larry P. Arnn President, Hillsdale College

Posted on 02/03/2021 1:05:59 PM PST by EBH

The totalitarian novel is a relatively new genre. In fact, the word “totalitarian” did not exist before the 20th century. The older word for the worst possible form of government is “tyranny”—a word Aristotle defined as the rule of one person, or of a small group of people, in their own interests and according to their will. Totalitarianism was unknown to Aristotle, because it is a form of government that only became possible after the emergence of modern science and technology.

The old word “science” comes from a Latin word meaning “to know.” The new word “technology” comes from a Greek word meaning “to make.” The transition from traditional to modern science means that we are not so much seeking to know when we study nature as seeking to make things—and ultimately, to remake nature itself. That spirit of remaking nature—including human nature—greatly emboldens both human beings and governments. Imbued with that spirit, and employing the tools of modern science, totalitarianism is a form of government that reaches farther than tyranny and attempts to control the totality of things...

...In Orwell’s 1984, there are telescreens everywhere, as well as hidden cameras and microphones. Nearly everything you do is watched and heard. It even emerges that the watchers have become expert at reading people’s faces. The organization that oversees all this is called the Thought Police.

...you can also look at how big tech companies here in the U.S. are tracking people’s movements and activities to the extent that they are often able to know in advance what people will be doing. Even more alarming, these companies are increasingly able and willing to use the information they compile to manipulate people’s thoughts and decisions.

...Winston’s job is to fix every book, newspaper, etc. that it conforms to the new truth.

(Excerpt) Read more at imprimis.hillsdale.edu ...


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Conspiracy; Reference
KEYWORDS: 1984; hillsdalecollege; larryarnn; orwell
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To: Semper Vigilantis

Bookmark


21 posted on 02/03/2021 8:53:59 PM PST by foxfield (When the going gets tough, the tough get going!)
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To: EBH
Another Greek, Plato, pre-dates Aristotle by about 100 years.

In his text "The Republic" there is a progression of societal forms. After "Democracy" ... comes "Tyranny" ... then total collapse.

Pogo had right ... the enemy is us.

Consider - you never get the time back; you can only eat the seed corn once ...

22 posted on 02/04/2021 1:20:14 AM PST by jamaksin ( )
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To: jamaksin

As the article posted examines the term tyranny vs. what we are witnessing is totalitarian government.

A tyrant is one, singular, or small. Often times not as in control of those distant from them both physically and class.

This new form of tyrant though is totalitarian. With our digital age nearly god-like in omniscience. Tracking you, your phone, your car, the websites you visit, and soon a digital currency with the ability to know who, what, where, how you spend your digital currency. And if the WEF video regarding how they anticipate to use this digital currency even the where you will be allowed to spend it.

This is not a tyrant, this is totalitarian and they anticipate, salivate at making it global. And have even been testing the system out in poor African nations already.

Part of recent discussions, last week at the WEF, clarified they are not ready at this point to go completely digital. They are not ready, yet. But it is coming and the stage has been set using the pandemic as the key to creating the needed debt bubble, grooming the western population to accept this eventuality.

If things and markets collapse tomorrow we can likely escape this, but letting this drag out for another 6 months to a year will be our demise.

We are watching unprecedented things happening in DC with our new government. Yes, it isn’t just a new President, it is a new government sprinting towards the post pandemic world. Why are troops in DC? Why have they ordered a 60-day stand down from the DOD to address extremists in the troops? Why were they so ready to expel Republicans Representatives from the House because they stood up to question the electors?

They are setting the stage to do something that not only will Trump supporters disagree with, but so will large swaths of their own base supporters.

WEF Unveils Global Governance Consortium for Digital Currencies
https://cointelegraph.com/news/wef-unveils-global-governance-consortium-for-digital-currencies
On Jan. 22, the WEF and several major central banks released a central bank digital currency (CBDC) policymaker toolkit tailored to fostering further study of three categories of CDBC development: retail, wholesale and hybrid.

China’s Central Bank to Lead Real-World Pilot of Digital Yuan: Report
https://cointelegraph.com/news/chinas-central-bank-to-lead-real-world-pilot-of-digital-yuan-report

France to Test Its Central Bank Digital Currency in Q1 2020: Official
https://cointelegraph.com/news/france-to-test-its-central-bank-digital-currency-in-q1-2020-official

World leaders pledge a ‘great reset’ after the pandemic
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/01/29/davos-merkel-macron-coronavirus/


23 posted on 02/04/2021 3:37:39 AM PST by EBH (Repent, Accept, Proclaim )
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To: EBH

Only one thing got me: in Orwell’s world, sex instinct is gone. In our world, its been changed into a deity to worship: self pleasure. Not totalitarian. Demonic.


24 posted on 02/16/2021 5:06:55 AM PST by NetAddicted (Just looking)
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