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Nearing, Scott, 1883-1983

"Civilization and Beyond Learning from History"


5. _Radicals_ seek out the roots, digging, sifting, classifying,
assembling their findings, announcing their conclusions and
working to apply them in theory and practice to the structure
and function of their communities.
6. _Revolutionists_ are in a hurry. Disillusioned with the past and
the present they seek by "direct action" to create a new
social order, out of whole cloth, quickly, here and now.
Never mind the means, get results!
7. _Totalists_ have the whole truth, attained through reasoning,
experimentation, revelation. Having learned the truth, they
dedicate their energies to the propagation of the faith.
Where they encounter opposition they counter it and, if
necessary, annihilate it with its originators and advocates.
As a matter of practical experience, proponents of all seven approaches
to social problems and social change employ a wide range of techniques
from persuasion to coercion. To support their projects they advance
logical arguments, elaborate half-truths, make emotional appeal; employ
trickery, deceit, preferment, privilege, flattery, soft living, bribery,
coercion, physical and social violence--individual and collective
extermination.
Civilization as reported in history and in its current practice is based
on five faulty ideological assumptions:
1. _Competitive survival struggle results in social improvement._
Survival struggle has certainly played a role in stimulating
discovery, invention and the diffusion of culture traits.


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