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Machine Gods

Firstly, apologies for the extended absence – most of my writing time has been directed into finishing my 2nd book Machine Gods – Prelude to the Wodanian Ethics. Given that it sets the stall for what I am attempting to develop on this blog I felt it pertinent to complete and thus set a framework that I intend to follow.

Machine-Gods-2

The novel itself is a part fiction, part philosophy crossover – others can judge how successful my attempt was. The plot follows the protagonist through two worlds; one called the ‘Pleasure World’ and the other taken to be the ‘Outside World’ on account that it contains more of Humanity’s failings than the former. In the Pleasure World is where the character develops insights into the nature of perception, liberty and legitimacy. Whereas in the ‘Outside World’ such concepts are put to the test as various challenges arise such as conflicts with other ideas and the isolation of progression.

The book is set during the decline of Humanity’s civilisation as a more powerful and coherent model arises – that of the Machine’s. The book does not follow the established practice of Humans battling Machines for survival – in most part because the story starts later than said event and Humanity lost. Nor does it attempt to describe how a hero arises against all odds to fell the dominant, evil Machine empire – that one has already been told as well. Rather it explores the concept of developing legitimacy and purpose in the shadow of overbearing authority.

The book begins with the redundancy of Humanity in our Age of Excess; that is – we become evaluating agents rather than a participating entities. In effect, passive rather than active. And when faced with the collapse of Human civilisation a madman steps forth and constructs a world of pleasures for the majority of people to play out their final days. Except not all find joy in this zoo of indulgence. And that is the quest of the book, as surmised in the second chapter;

“Mankind has always progressed through a series of inequalities – a higher quality of necessity. My declaration, indeed my sum total of being, is to state that the Pleasure World is not the highest type of quality. And so I wander in search of this higher type of quality.”

Should your curiosity make its way to the book please let me know what you think.

All the best,

Luke

 

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On Capitulation

The frustration is compelling. One must act, that much is certain. The night draws in. We know how the dawn shall greet us. One does not need a mystic to see such things. We are of that kind; perceptive and delinquent. We have made a monster of life – that nuance of being, a shallow sentiment in our pitiful eyes. Yes, we were undeserving – even of our own malicious judgement. We never dared gaze that inward. Too soft were our eyes, perhaps too heavy was our guilt. And from this burden was the heaviest of tolls exacted – dignity. And yet to reach this point of capitulation we must recognise that dignity had already been surrendered. All it took was for a vulture to notice, and notice they did. And people did not ponder, let alone weep, at their downgoing.

And so many an ideology was written to correct this injustice – this offence. Many a scripture had to be forged, taught, espoused. Martyrs were even said to have died for it. So grand its message, so prominent. Sons were even resurrected to tell it once more. But no one truly believed the words; they were too constricting, too demanding. And no one had the heart for such doctrine. Yes, one could die for such ideas, but one could not live for them – they were not meant for ascending one’s presence, only one’s negative ascendance – heaven, that theatrical plane. And so man was made hollow, made to feel ashamed of his freedom – that he must bend his knee to any ideal upheld to be greater than himself. And from that point has all humanity ceased to be relevant. Everything has always been a reaction to reverse this ailment; all his charity, his humility, his obedience – sought to both justify and then maintain his submission. Devotion? Devotion is the name given to servitude and then we take pride in who is the more pious.

So spin a better tale, diviners of virtue. Explain why our compassion has presided over the declining dignity of our species. Which deity shall I hurl my insults at? And yet we are too far gone for such hysterics. The enlightened have long abandoned their posts. On to some other amusement. Books either burned or forgotten, all in the act of denial – how fervent our apathy. And so is it any wonder that I disdain this ‘progression’? This euphoria of existence? Where each act is a painful acquiescence to a subsistent lifestyle. Who now shall bow? Knowing the shame of his servitude?