Dr. Stephen A. Ogden

LIBS 7005: Technology, Invention & Power

THE ORIGINS OF TECHNOLOGY”An Archaeology of Western Civ.

Hyper-Individualism The primacy and the extreme valorisation of the individual is a

Western Civilisation characteristic. There are three contributing strands here in the DNA of the West.

1. Christianity: each person is saved or damned individually, by his own action, inaction, or decision.

2. Stoicism: in philosophy of ancient Rome action, control, and responsibility is entirely an individual’s to achieve or fail

cf. Senator Regulus, 3 AD

3. Ancient Greece: Odysseus

THE ORIGINS OF TECHNOLOGY”An Archaeology of Western Civ.

Non-Western Civilisations are far less focused on the individual: to the point of hostility.– Judaism: the Tribe is primary.– Islam: God is One: Allah is all.– Eastern: ‘the tall stalk of grass is cut off.’– Confucianism: social stability is primary over

individual expression: “The 3 Loyalties / Obediences” (Political-Family axis: Father, Husband, Son.)

EPIC QUEST NARRATIVE:The form of Individualism in the West

Near the foundation of the predominant individualism that defines the West is, clearly, Homer’s characterisation of Odysseus.

The solitary, individual hero who triumphs for the boon of his society repeats and re-echoes in story, myth, legend—and even life—down through our Civilisation.

This idea in fact has form that has been charted and delineated by scholars of substance in the past Century, and is now referred to as stages of the hero’s journey, or as ‘the epic quest narrative.’

– an American (Joe Campbell) in the latter half of the last century appropriated these scholarly ideas, and by making a TV series about them, made it seem like he was the originator of them instead what he was: a mere popularisor.

You will recognise this form in many fairy-tales, such as Jack & the Beanstalk, in great literature, such as Lord of the Rings, and film, such as Star Wars.

EPIC QUEST NARRATIVE :The Stages of the Hero’s Journey

1. A person of outwardly ordinary or humble origins and qualities; extraordinary gifts and abilities are hinted.

2. Movement to outside world and larger forces—threat to place of origin. Appearance of Mentor or Guide.

3. A Threshold is crossed and Guardians are encountered.

EPIC QUEST NARRATIVE:Stages of the Hero’s Journey

4. A destiny, a mission, is declared, discovered, or defined: a charge is laid.

– a Council convened

5. Trek and Quest begins.– Trials, temptations– Enemies, Ogres and unexpected New Allies.

Learn to use gift of discernment.

6. Time of challenges and growth:– Awareness of gifts: failure and success

EPIC QUEST NARRATIVE :Stages of the Hero’s Journey

7. Deeds: acts and feats– breaking of ancient spells and curses

8. Crisis: critical encounter—Battle or Ordeal.

9. Apotheosis: the Hero attains characteristics of the Divine.

EPIC QUEST NARRATIVE :Stages of the Hero’s Journey

10. Return and Delivery of Boon. A new stasis (stable condition of order and

functioning peace) is achieved in the place or culture of origin when the Hero returns.

The new stasis involves change in the people, place, or culture of origin

– The Hero may thrive or may diminish in the new stasis.

Epic Quest NarrativeThe ONE TRUE SECRET

The overarching virtue—the universal boon—of the epic quest; the great ONE SECRET;

Success both for individuals and societies

quod semper, quod ubique,

quod ab omnibus:

—that ENDURANCE ALONE BRINGS REWARD

—that PERSEVERANCE IS THE HIGHEST VIRTUE