Last and First Men · Chapter
IV: An Americanized Planet explained
This chapter describes the final phase of the first world civilization, characterized by a global culture of ritualistic flying, worship of Gordelpus, and a decline in intelligence.
What happens
This chapter describes the final phase of the first world civilization, characterized by a global culture of ritualistic flying, worship of Gordelpus, and a decline in intelligence. The society, though prosperous and unified, is spiritually empty and intellectually repressed. The sudden exhaustion of coal supplies triggers a crisis, leading to economic hardship and a psychological breakdown. The scientists, unable to solve the crisis, resort to fraudulent miracles to maintain control, while the populace clings to faith and ritual. The chapter ends with the world on the brink of collapse, still devoted to its doomed way of life.
Themes in this chapter
Technology and Its Dangers
The reliance on technology and the misuse of scientific authority lead to societal stagnation and eventual crisis.
Society and Collective Identity
The world state's collective identity is defined by religious ritual and conformity, suppressing individuality and intellect.
The Limits of Knowledge
The scientists' inability to solve the crisis and their resort to deception highlight the limits of human knowledge and the dangers of ignorance.
Characters to notice
- The First Men
The world-citizens of this era, characterized by their devotion to Gordelpus, ritual flying, and intellectual decline.
- Gordelpus
The divine Prime Mover worshipped by the First Men, demanding constant movement and ritual flight.
- Socrates
The ancient philosopher whose ideas were misinterpreted by the 'ultimate Socratics,' a heretical sect.
- The Jews
Mentioned as attempting serious organization during the crisis.
- Satan
Referenced as the source of curiosity and doubt, which the society repressed.
Key passages
“The other great heresy was derived partly from the energy of repressed intellective impulses, and was practised by persons of natural curiosity, who nevertheless, shared the universal paucity of intelligence.”
Another major heresy arose from suppressed intellectual urges, practiced by curious but unintelligent individuals.
Describes the 'ultimate Socratics' and their misguided quest for definitions.
“The collapse of this first world-civilization was due to the sudden failure of the supplies of coal.”
The first world civilization fell because coal supplies suddenly ran out.
The immediate cause of the crisis.
“Each individual, it must be remembered, had once been a questioning child, but had been taught to shun curiosity as the breath of Satan.”
Everyone had been curious as children but were taught to avoid curiosity as if it were from the devil.
Explains the psychological repression that leads to the crisis.
“Like those little rodents whose migration became barred by an encroachment of the sea, so that annually they drowned themselves in thousands, the First Men helplessly continued in their ritualistic behaviour.”
Like lemmings that drown themselves, the First Men kept performing their rituals despite the disaster.
Analogy for the society's blind adherence to ritual.