The Design in Society

By: Christopher_Quigley

“Science will have its mastery of all things.”

“Thus the design of a system of generational control and transfer of
 technology and technique and resources must have been developed long ago.”

My father was a born philosopher. He was self read and self educated. Growing up in Ireland he constantly talked to me about the need to think. Like so many others he regarded an unreflected life as a tragedy. He believed active consciousness as the essence of what it meant to be a human being. Accordingly when I went out into the world I thought everybody sought such consciousness. What a shock reality was to me.

One stream of ideas my father regularly spoke about was the “design in society.” I really did not understand what he was talking about. Dad died in 2007 from cancer and it is only now that I comprehend his insights. The final key in this puzzle was put together when I read Will Durant’s “The Story of Philosophy”, in particular the chapter explaining the life and philosophy of Francis Bacon (born 1561). In this book Durant points out that Bacon was one of the most important philosophers of all time because he did not merely think but strove to put his thoughts into action. The formula of his thoughts was set out in “Magna Instauratio” which was in fact “The Great Reconstruction of Philosophy”.  In this program Bacon sought the following:

1. The Plan: Introductory Treatises.
2. A New Classification of the Sciences.
3. A New Method in the Interpretation of Nature.
4. Investigation of the Phenomena of Nature.
5. Describe the Ladder of the Intellect through which man will move from being controlled by nature to achieving mastery of it.
6. Anticipation of Scientific Results.
7. Plan of the Utopia that would flower from these results.

In the opinion of Durant:

“It was a magnificent enterprise, and except for Aristotle without precedent in the history of thought. It would differ from every other philosophy in aiming at practice rather than a theory, at specific concrete goods rather than at speculative symmetry. Knowledge is power, not mere argument or ornament; “it is not an opinion to be held….. but a work to be done; and I ….. am labouring to lay the foundation not of any sect or doctrine, but of utility and power.” Here, for the first time, are the voice and tone of modern science.” 

Durant continues:

“Wherever the spirit of control has overcome the spirit of resignation, Bacon’s influence has been felt. He is the voice of all those Europeans who have changes a continent from a forest into a treasure-land of art and science, and have made their little peninsula the center of all the world. “

Having propounded that all knowledge should be brought together in one format ( the fore-runner of the Encyclopaedia) in his book “The New Atlantis” published two years before his death Bacon sets out how this knowledge, won by science, should be used. In this fantastic work Bacon imagines that a secret society should be set up to serve the purposes of humanity. He believed this society was necessary because he felt that science was not achieving what it could because it was un-coordinated.

Durant:

“Wells thinks its Bacon’s greatest service to society, to have drawn for us, even so sketchily, the picture of a society in which at last science has its proper place as the master of all things; it was a royal act of imagination by which for three centuries one goal has been held in view by the great army of warriors in the battle of knowledge and invention against ignorance and poverty.  Here in these few pages we have the essence and the form of Francis Bacon, the law of his being and his life, the secret and continuous aspiration of his soul……….”

“In New Atlantis: “Among the excellent acts of the King one above all hath the pre-eminence. It was the creation and institution of the Order, or Society, which is called Solomon’s House; the noblest foundation, as we think, that was ever upon the earth; and the lantherne of this kingdom.”

“Solomon’s House takes the place, in the New Atlantis, of the Houses of Parliament in London, it is the home of the island government. But there are no politicians there, no insolent “elected persons,”  no “national palaver,” as Carlyle would say; no parties, caucuses, primaries, conventions, campaigns, buttons, lithographs, editorials, speeches, lies and elections; the idea of filling public office by such dramatic methods seems never to have entered the heads of these Atlantians. But the road to the heights of scientific repute is open to all and only those who have travelled the road sit in the councils of the state.”

“We (Atlantians) maintain a trade, not of gold, silver, or jewels, nor for silk, nor for spices, nor for any other commodity or matter, but only for God’s first creature, which was light; to have light of the growth of all parts of the world. These “Merchants of Light” are members of Solomon’s House who are sent abroad every twelve years to live among foreign peoples of every quarter of the civilized globe; to learn their language and study their sciences and industries and literatures; and to return, at the end of the twelve years to report their findings to the leaders of Solomon’s House; while their places abroad are taken by a new group of scientific explorers. In this way the best of all the world comes soon to the New Atlantis.”

Now when I look at the events occurring in society I see the co-ordination of “science” and “effects” propounded by Bacon. I no longer believe this co-ordination is happening by accident. However, the thing that profoundly affects me the most is the realisation that it must have been going on for such a very long period of time. Thus the design of a system of generational transfer and control of technology and technique and resources must have been developed long ago. This system operates as we speak. As per the outlines of Bacon this “system” is functioning outside standard “political” formats and is trans-national.

This epiphany inspired by my father has completely changed the way I see society and it has, funnily enough, helped me become a wiser and more effective teacher and investor. The one thing I am sorry about is that I did not understand what my father was talking about earlier. I would have enjoyed the insightful conversations it would have involved. But better later than never.

Reference:

“The Story of Philosophy”
Will Durant
1927 Simon & Schuster, New York.

By Christopher M. Quigley
B.Sc., M.M.I.I. Grad., M.A.
http://www.wealthbuilder.ie

Mr. Quigley is 46 years of age and holds a Batchelor Degree in Management from Trinity College/College of Commerce, Dublin and is a graduate of the Marketing Institute of Ireland. He commenced investing in the Stock Market in San Francisco, California where he lived for 6 years. Now based in Dublin, Mr. Quigley actively trades utilising the principles set out in the modules above. This Wealthbuilder course has been developed over the last 9 years as a result of research, study, experience and successful application.

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