Herbert Spencer

[Paul Mackin]

On Tue, 29 Dec 1998, Richard Romeo wrote:

> Well, with that info on Mr Spencer and Social Darwinism, maybe Mr P was 
> turning the tables a bit, sorta like what he does with the Slothropian 
> ancestral chain in the beginning of GR.


The idea of Slothrop's personal decline and eventual disappearance   
altogether being an instance of ontogeny recapituling phylogeny on the
human social level?

Applying species development principles to social development is such a
natural transition, even though today we sense it as ethically wrong.

In Pynchon is there an unending program to undermine our most
cherished and highest principles (giving them increased poignancy at the
same time)?

Or am I out of my mind????

				P.