Which novels could you build a civilization on?

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Ecky Thump

New member
The 1974 movie Zardoz, depicted a civilization structured according to L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz". What other novel could you build a civilization on? How would that civilization be better or worse than our own?

By 'novel' I mean a fictional book. This would exclude sacred texts (The Bible, The Qur'an, The Tanakh, The Veda, etc) as well as the writings of classical and modern philosphers.
 
I would say Animal Farm, by George Orwell. I believe that civilization could be built upon such because it also demonstrates the pitfalls of the very society that the animals created, enlightening us on how to avoid such mistakes.
 
i guess that "rules out" that brilliant classic by the american heroine called, Helen Keller( "The story of my life").

So i would DEFINATELY (try to) build a civilisation on that (more) "unsung " teacher-heroine called....

Anne Macy Sullivan.

She was Helen's first Teacher; and although i guess she made mistakes-like us all-nonetheless she must have learned from some(or even just ONE) of her own mistakes.
Not least because SHE DID HER WORK - QUIETLY,GENTLY(not always,though,when dealing with a young child called helen Keller !)...and ... STEADFASTLY.

So she "reminds me" of that other brilliant teacher (of philosophy and all);
Sir Karl R.Popper (et al).
i can say no better compliment to the late mrs Macy Sullivan than that.

(p.s.i trust that you may know that i for one wouldnt want to live-in a civilisation which was populated...just by...brilliant people- even...Brilliant Teachers,for that matter;for non-brilliant people usually have sound and admirable qualities too-like kindness,commonsense,and even "a sense-of-fun" !)
 
The Fountainhead or to a greater degree Atlas Shrugged. Slapstick or Lonesome No More.
 
I would like a civilization based on the magical kingdom by terry brooks, but i would settle out of court for something learned from atlas shrugged by ayn rand.
Ayaan Ali's Autobiography was very interesting and would be my anti civilization.
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As far as religion and philosophy go I prefer teachings of Jesus Christ and Confucius most. [I know you didn't ask]
 
Wow, you're definitely set upon putting the cart before the horse, Icky.

No, I wouldn't "build a civilization" on a novel. In fact, the presumption of a constructed or built civilization is an obstacle for/to philosophy. Why? Well, because the origins of civilization are related directly to the alternative, barbarism. Now, what would be responsible for the successful conversion of a barbarian to someone you, Icky, would accept as "civilized". Here's another way of conceiving the obstacle: was the Sioux indian aware that he was a barbarian prior to his contact with the Pennsylvania gentleman, prior to the gentleman's efforts to remake/actuate the indian? That a human being descends within the construct of civilization, from the sophisticated cerebral one you take for granted, Icky, to the simpler one that follows Nature's text, is more likely. This descent is non-imperative, just as the contrary movement is non-imperative. With certitude I can see the degenerate inclination of your question, mainly because it is oblivious to the selfish appropriation of another's ideas for a dubious project.
 
Excellent question! Boy... you got my mental juices going.
I can't chime in w/ specifics (right now) but several of the "Peaceful Warrior" books by Dan Millman immediately came to my mind. They stress personal growth, excellence and responsibility amidst any (even chaotic) circumstances. I would also probably take Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged", but temper it's objectiveism with "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse. Also too, "Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah" by R. Bach, would probably by in my selection.
That is the short list, for now, but really good question! I'm not a novel kinda guy myself , but I can't wait to see some of the suggestions.
 
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