{Victorian Values [continued]}[12th December 1987]

[Redbook4:217-218][19871212:2250g]{Victorian Values [continued]}[12th December 1987]

19871212.2250

[continued]

The Victorians had a public regard for Truth which we do not have. * Of course Individuals failed to meet the expected standard, but it was a matter for scandal if they were found out: it would bring about a re-assessment of the liar's perceived character. The word of an Officer and a Gentleman could {(in principle)} be taken absolutely without question: it was a matter of the honour** of a Man of Honour. It may well be that the advance of the Victorians in matters of Science was due to the pre-eminence of Truth over (for example) ambition. Ambition is far more important than Truth to most of us.

I was told recently, on good authority, that many PhD students freely admit (to their contemporaries) fiddling the results of their Doctoral researches to obtain the expected results. If such a practice were to become widespread, in a civilisation founded on technology, the basic infrastructure of that civilisation could be expected eventually to crumble. There are signs of this already, although I cannot say what the reasons {for these cases} actually are.

Finally, the Victorians of course cared for the Soul. We don't give a stuff for the Soul: we don't believe in it.

*(These are, of course, generalisations from cultural impressions: I have no hard evidence.)

**We now think Honour is a social rank, medal or title: we simply have no idea of what Honour means.

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