Liam ProvenJan 26

“Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.”

― Frank Herbert, _Dune_

Show threadAlex Zakhlestin 🇵🇹
@lproven It's often mentioned, yes. The goal of Butlerian Jihad was to avoid a power imbalance between the creators of thinking machines and everyone else. But it ultimately failed, as it resulted in power imbalance between feudal leaders and everyone else. Not to mention a caste of mentates
Jan 26 at 12:52pmWeb
Show threadGabriel NJan 26

@thisalex @lproven the techbros lost, the warlords won. Other outcomes are possible: for instance, religious fundamentalism, like a White Christian nationalism.

In the world of Dune, religion is there, but it is not the center of power.

Show threadTor Iver WilhelmsenJan 26
@wtrmt @thisalex @lproven Depends. It is core to the Fremen, and significant to the Bene Gesserit - in addition to their powers they have their mythology that they base their decisions on.
Show threadGabriel NJan 26

@toriver @thisalex @lproven the Fremen are co-opted by the missionaria protectiva, then, they’re given a new purpose by Kynes into a terraforming effort, to be converted later by the “caudillo” into religious zealots.

There’s a story arc for both Paul and the Fremen. I liked the way that the conflict within the different Fremen factions played out in the recent movies.