Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Another Iron Law

Enunciating a universal principle of ideology:  "There's always a bigger fish."

The canonical textual citation of the principle comes from Star Wars Episode I and is spoken by Qui-Gon Jinn, whose craft is saved from a "Goo-ba fish" (or something-- the name is extruded from the lips of Jar Jar Binks and is therefore difficult to make out) by an even bigger monster.

In the context of ideological warfare, however, it refers to the universally valid proposition that no matter how stupid and pernicious an idea may be, there will always emerge some even more stupid and pernicious idea that will make it seem comparatively benign.  Like in the movie, these two will feed on each other.  Unlike in the movie, however, they will not cancel each other out.

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