> But perhaps I'm looking at this the wrong way, maybe a utopian civilization would consider thoughts of evil, thoughts of crime and intentions to harm others as a justifiably punishable event.
Maybe. And yet, I seem to remember reading an essay a while ago about the difference between cities and companies, and why some cities have lasted for thousands of years, whereas most companies are lucky to make twenty. The answer in the author's opinion was a tolerance for dissent.
So, you may be right about stopping violence, but do you think those in charge of surveillance will stop there? Because I do wonder whether, in a world where thoughtcrime is a real possibility, things might not get end up in a permanently rigid status quo, rather than the free-flowing and ever-changing conversation that we call culture.
Maybe. And yet, I seem to remember reading an essay a while ago about the difference between cities and companies, and why some cities have lasted for thousands of years, whereas most companies are lucky to make twenty. The answer in the author's opinion was a tolerance for dissent.
So, you may be right about stopping violence, but do you think those in charge of surveillance will stop there? Because I do wonder whether, in a world where thoughtcrime is a real possibility, things might not get end up in a permanently rigid status quo, rather than the free-flowing and ever-changing conversation that we call culture.