Zaman, Turkey
May 21 2006
Is There a ‘Seldon Plan’ we do not Know About?
MEHMET KAMIS
05.20.2006 Saturday – ISTANBUL 00:31
Today, I would like to tell you about a novelist and his book. Isaac
Asimov who died on April 6, 1992 is known as one of the greatest
science fiction writers of our age.
Asimov, born as the child of a Jewish family in Russia, migrated to
USA when he was three. He grew up in New York and started writing
science fiction stories before he is 20. The Foundation series, among
his several works big and small, are considered among the most
important works in the field of science fiction.
In his Foundation series, Asimov talks about an imaginary and distant
future. Events taking place tens of thousands of years later are told
in these series called a kind of history of the Knights of the Temple
as they come to the agenda at times. Differently from the common
sci-fi works, there are no aliens or strange creatures around. The
human being went to space and gradually spread all over the galaxy. A
big empire is founded and the whole galaxy is under the sovereignty
of this empire. Asimov finds himself a hero at this point. A young
mathematician, Hari Seldon, puts forward an interesting thesis he
will later call `psychohistory.’
This thesis asserts that the future course of human events can be
calculated with a very complex mathematics formula and can be changed
through interventions if necessary. The formula does not work on
human beings one by one but gives perfect results on huge masses of
people. As Seldon applies the data of the era he lives in to the
formula, a very interesting result emerges. Bad times await humanity.
The empire will collapse and an era of barbarism to last for
thousands of years will replace it. Seldon realizes he will not be
able to stop the fall of this empire but the revival of humanity can
be possible in a much shorter time with proper interventions.
Seldon prepares a plan he believes will be for the benefit of
humanity. He deceives the administrators and sends a group of
scientists to a deserted planet at the border of the galaxy in order
to set up the Foundation with an apparent mission of preparing an
encyclopedia. He also convenes another group as the real protectors
of the plan under the title Second Foundation, in an unknown place he
calls Star’s End. The real mission the First Foundation is not aware
of is that of establishing the empire again in the future. As for the
Second Foundation, it is made up of leaders who know about the Plan
and will protect and make it operate after Seldon dies. Though the
First Foundation seems to rise, the Real Masters are the Second
Foundation members behind the scenes.
The Second Foundation we can also call social engineers constantly
controls the First Foundation and makes necessary adjustments for
them to live in accordance with the Seldon Plan. The plan is based on
the principle of leaving a single choice for human beings pressured
by crises inside and outside the country and their following this
single way compulsorily. The Second Foundation is always vigilant in
order for the plan to function. It produces proper crises when
necessary and never lets the First Foundation act on its own. It
continuously reduces the choices and makes sure others remain loyal
to the big plan. Those who have read the series may ask why I do not
mention the Mule or R. Daniel. If I mentioned them, then I would have
done wrong to those who have not read the series, however, I intended
to do so but this column does not have enough space for them, either.
While narrating the Seldon Plan, I said that the basic spirit is
leaving one single choice for humanity pressured by domestic and
foreign crises. Now, I have a look at the very recent history…
Foreign troubles on the one hand…The events taking place in
neighboring Iraq, developments within the framework of Iran, our
European Union membership process, France’s efforts to enact the
so-called Armenian Genocide law…It is possible to extend the list.
Domestic troubles on the other hand…The tension in Semdinli, the
Counter-Terrorism Act and the debates that ensued, pressure imposed
on the sanctities of different groups in the society, tension at
universities, the sudden economic fluctuation in the past week and
the treacherous attack on the Council of State yesterday…It is
possible to extend the links of this chain, too. I wonder if there is
a Second Foundation and are we forced to follow a certain way within
the framework of a pre-determined plan unawarely? No, it cannot be
possible!
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress