4 ms·

He wrote about a society where genetic testing and gene surgery made it simple to prevent any potential genetic consequences for incest. The entire point of th

He wrote about a society where genetic testing and gene surgery made it simple to prevent any potential genetic consequences for incest. The entire point of the incest taboo is to avoid those genetic consequences. Do we still need an incest taboo in that case? That's just the sort of deeply held cultural value that Heinlein wanted people to be willing to think about for themself. Heinlein didn't advocate for incest or for polygamy. He wanted to convince people to think for themselves, even when the thing you are thinking about is an "unquestionable" cultural belief.

bawolff 5y ago
I'd argue that the problem is more that incest is commonly abusive to the point where i'm not sure its possible to separate the theoretical non-abusive case out. In any case, i'm a believer in free speech, i don't object to him writing on such a topic, im just unconvinced. As far as thinking for oneself, not on the incest subject, but i agree about the author generally. starship troopers is a novel where i heartily disagree with what is espoused. However reading it forced me to really think about why i disagree and what i really believe instead and why. It really helped me examine my own beliefs, which made it a very positive reading experience.
- GeekyBear 5y ago
  > In any case, i'm a believer in free speech, i don't object to him writing on such a topic, im just unconvinced. He wasn't trying to convince you to do anything except to reconsider the views you absorbed from your culture without conscious thought
  - quacked 5y ago
    That is an excellent way to phrase it. The only other piece of writing that I know of that has the same "reconsider your unconscious beliefs" effect is the now-dead blog "The Last Psychiatrist".
  - bawolff 5y ago
    And he managed to at other times. He just didn't in that particular instance. I'm also unsure that was fully his goal. If so wouldn't other books or even other characters on the same book have opposing or different (yet still radical) views on the topic, instead of most of his characters all having really similar views?

bawolff 5y ago

I'd argue that the problem is more that incest is commonly abusive to the point where i'm not sure its possible to separate the theoretical non-abusive case out. In any case, i'm a believer in free speech, i don't object to him writing on such a topic, im just unconvinced. As far as thinking for oneself, not on the incest subject, but i agree about the author generally. starship troopers is a novel where i heartily disagree with what is espoused. However reading it forced me to really think about why i disagree and what i really believe instead and why. It really helped me examine my own beliefs, which made it a very positive reading experience.

GeekyBear 5y ago
> In any case, i'm a believer in free speech, i don't object to him writing on such a topic, im just unconvinced. He wasn't trying to convince you to do anything except to reconsider the views you absorbed from your culture without conscious thought
- quacked 5y ago
  That is an excellent way to phrase it. The only other piece of writing that I know of that has the same "reconsider your unconscious beliefs" effect is the now-dead blog "The Last Psychiatrist".
- bawolff 5y ago
  And he managed to at other times. He just didn't in that particular instance. I'm also unsure that was fully his goal. If so wouldn't other books or even other characters on the same book have opposing or different (yet still radical) views on the topic, instead of most of his characters all having really similar views?