I thought this was rather interesting light on the
relationship between supporters of *heresies*, such
as CF, and the mainstream scientific establishment.
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Resentment against the informer and secret
agent is not only a matter of historical
memory. Any organized society is intolerant
of those who set themselves apart from the
prevailing norms. Any group's major rewards
are reserved for those who most wholeheartedly
accept and most vigorously personify the
group's ideals. Psychologists, sociologists
and philosophers have abundantly remarked the
similarity between the position of the artist
and that of the criminal in any society. What
the two have in common is the fact that they
set themselves apart from society; they are by
nature sceptical of its ideals, of its morals
and interests; they arrogate to themselves the
right to reject the established code and to
live by their own. It is human nature to resent
such independence, even arrogance.
This resentment is the price the artist pays
for the independent point of view which nourishes
his art; punishment, the active expression of
this resentment, is the price the criminal pays
for his attempt to achieve the society's aims by
asocial means.
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Cheers,
Frank Grimer
