67. Is REALITY "Perfection"? -- excerpts from "Arnold Zweig Presents the Living Thoughts of Spinoza", 1939

Excerpts
from

"Arnold Zweig

Presents
the
Living Thoughts
of Spinoza",

1939,

David McKay Co.,
Fawcett Publications

[All quotations
reproduced here
will be from
Spinoza
(born 1632 - died 1677)
except
where
otherwise noted.]

"What
Spinoza
did
was
to cry out
to
every epoch:

Use
your
intellect,
sharpen it,
trust it,
learn to use it,
and
be guided by it
alone.

It is
the dictator
that will
advance the world;
it is
the creative process
with whose help
you can
oppose to
the chaos
that troubles you
the powers
of
enlightenment,
contentment,
and formation."
-- Arnold Zweig

[page i]

"Minds
are not
conquered
by force,
but by
love
and
high-mindedness."
-- Spinoza
 [page i]
 
 
"By
Courage
I mean the
desire
whereby
every man
strives
to preserve
his own being
in accordance
solely
with the dictates
of
Reason.
 
By
High-Mindedness
I mean the
desire
whereby
every man
endeavors,
solely under the dictates
of Reason,
to
aid other men
and
to unite them
to
himself
in friendship."
[p. 87]
 
Thus
temperance,
sobriety
and
presence of mind
in danger,
etc.,
are varieties
of Courage;
courtesy,
mercy,
etc.,
are varieties
of
High-mindedness."
[p. 87]
 
"... men
who are governed
by
Reason --
that is,
who seek
what is useful
to them
in accordance
with reason --
desire for themselves
nothing
which they do not
also desire
for
the rest of mankind,
and,
consequently,
are just,
faithful
and
honorable
in their conduct."
[p. 95]
 
"The mind's
highest good
is
the knowledge of God,
and
the mind's
highest virtue
is
to know God."
[p. 96]
 
"We sometimes
see men
so absorbed
in
one object,
that,
although it
be not present,
they think
they have it
before them;
when
this is the case
with a man
who is not asleep,
we say
he is delirious
or
mad;
nor
are those persons
who
are
inflamed with love,
and
who
dream all night
and
all day
about
nothing
but their mistress,
or
some woman,
considered
as
less mad,
for
they are made
objects of ridicule.

But when
a miser
thinks of nothing
but gain
or
money,
or
when an ambitious man
thinks of nothing
but glory,
they
are not reckoned
to be mad,
because
they are
generally harmful,
and
are thought worthy
of
being hated.

But,
in reality,
Avarice,
Ambition,
Lust,
etc.,
are
species of Madness,
though
they may not be
reckoned
among diseases."
[p. 104]
 
"HATRED
CAN NEVER BE
GOOD
 
Envy,
derision,
contempt,
anger,
revenge
and other
emotions
attributable to hatred,
or
arising therefrom,
are
bad.
 
Between
derision
and
laughter
I recognize
a
great difference.
 
For laughter,
as
also jocularity,
is
merely
pleasure;
therefore,
so long as
it be not
excessive,
it is in itself
good.
 
Assuredly,
nothing forbids man
to enjoy himself,
save
grim
and gloomy
superstition.
 
For why is it
more lawful
to satiate
one's hunger and thirst
than
to drive away
one's melancholy?
 
I reason,
and
have convinced myself
as follows:
No deity,
nor anyone else,
save the envious,
takes pleasure
in
my infirmity
and
discomfort,
nor
sets down to my virtue
the tears,
sobs,
fear,
and
the like,
which are signs
of
infirmity of spirit;
on the contrary,
the greater
the pleasure
wherewith
we are affected,
the greater
the perfection
whereto
we pass;
in other words,
the more must we
necessarily
partake of
the divine nature.
 
Therefore,
to make use of
what comes
in our way,
and
to enjoy it
as much as possible
(not to the point
of satiety,
for that
would not be
enjoyment),
is
the part
of
a wise man.
 
I say
it is the part
of a wise man
to refresh
and
recreate
himself
with
moderate and pleasant food
and drink,
and also with perfumes,
with the soft beauty
of growing plants,
with dress,
with music,
with many sports,
with theatres
and the like,
such as
every man may make use of
without injury to his neighbor."
[p. 104 - 105]
 
"He who lives
under the guidance
of Reason,
endeavors,
as far as possible,
to render back
Love,
or
Kindness,
for other men's
Hatred,
Anger,
Contempt,
etc.,
toward him."
[p. 105]

"Extreme pride
or
dejection
indicates
extreme ignorance
of self.
 
Extreme pride
or
dejection
indicates
extreme infirmity
of spirit.
 
He
who
is led by fear,
and
does good
in order
to escape evil,
is not
led by Reason."
[p. 107]
 
"The more
we understand
particular things,
the more
do we
understand God."
[p. 126]
 
"God loves Himself
with
an infinite
intellectual Love.
 
The intellectual Love
of the mind
toward God
is
part of
the infinite Love
wherewith
God loves Himself.
 
In proportion
as each thing
possesses more
of
Perfection,
so is it
more
active,
and
less passive;
and,
vice versa,
in proportion
as it
is more active,
so
is it
more perfect.
 
Blessedness
is not
the reward
of virtue,
but
virtue itself;
neither do we
rejoice
therein,
because
we control our lusts,
but
contrariwise,
because we rejoice therein,
we
are able
to
control our lusts."
[p. 127]
 

"If

the way
which I have
pointed out
as
leading
to this result
seems
exceedingly hard,
it may
nevertheless
be discovered.
 
Needs must it
be hard,
since
it is
so seldom
found.
 
How would it
be possible,
if salvation
were
ready to our hand,
and
could
without great labor
be found,
that it should be
by almost all men
neglected?
 
But all things
excellent
are
as difficult
as they are
rare."
[p. 128]
 
"I could see
the benefits
which are acquired
through
fame and riches,
and that
I should be
obliged
to
abandon the quest
of
such objects,
if I seriously
devoted myself
to
the search
for
something different
and new."
[p. 57]
 
"The pursuit of
honors
and
riches
is likewise
very absorbing,
especially
if such objects
be sought
simply
for their own sake,
inasmuch
as they are then
supposed to constitute
the
highest good.
 
In the case
of fame
the mind
is still more absorbed,
for fame
is conceived
as always good
for its own sake,
and
as
the ultimate end
to which
all actions
are directed.
 
Further,
the attainment
of
riches and fame
is not followed
as in the case
of sensual pleasures
by
repentance,
but,
the more we acquire,
the greater
is our delight,
and consequently,
the more we are incited
to increase
both the one and the other;
on the other hand,
if our hopes
happen to be
frustrated
we are plunged
into
the deepest sadness.
 
Fame
has
the further drawback
that
it compels its votaries
to
order their lives
according to the opinions
of their fellow-men,
shunning
what they usually shun,
and seeking
what they usually seek."
[p. 58]
 
"... I was
in a state
of
great peril,
and
I compelled myself
to seek
with all my strength
for a remedy,
however uncertain it might be;
as a sick man
struggling
with a deadly disease,
when he sees
that death
will surely be upon him
unless
a remedy be found,
is compelled
to seek
such a remedy
with
all his strength,
inasmuch as
his
whole hope
lies
therein.
 
All the objects
pursued
by the multitude,
not only
bring
no remedy that
tends to preserve
our being,
but
even
act as hindrances,
causing the death
not seldom
of
those who possess them,
and always
of those
who are possessed
by them."
[p. 59]
 
"... we
are compelled
first of all
to lay down
certain rule of life
as
provisionally good,
to wit,
the following:
 
1. To speak
in a manner
intelligible
to the multitude
and
to comply
with
every general custom
that does not
hinder
the attainment
of
our purpose.
 
For we
can gain
from the multitude
no small advantages,
provided that
we strive
to accommodate ourselves
to its understanding
as far as possible:
moreover,
we shall
in this way
gain a friendly audience
for
the reception
of
the truth.
 
2. To indulge ourselves
with pleasures
only
in so far as they are
necessary
for
preserving health.
 
3. Lastly,
to endeavor
to obtain
only sufficient money
or
other commodities
to enable us
to preserve
our life and health,
and
to follow
such general customs
as are consistent
with
our purpose."
[p. 62]
 
"Whatever
is,
is
in God,
and
without God
nothing can
be,
or
be conceived.
 
The corporeal
or
extended substance
was not created
by  God
but
is one of
the infinite attributes
of God.
 
All things
which come to pass,
come to pass
solely
through the laws
of
the
infinite nature of God,
and follow
from the necessity
of His essence.
 
Nothing
in the universe
is
contingent,
but all things
are conditioned
to exist and operate
in a particular manner
by the necessity
of
the divine nature.
 
Things
could not have been
brought into being
by God
in any manner
or in any order
different
from that
which has
in fact
obtained.
 
Therefrom
it follows
that things
have been
brought into being
by God
in the highest perfection,
inasmuch as
they have
necessarily
followed
from
a most perfect nature.
 
Reality
and
perfection
I use
as
synonymous terms.
 
The nature
and
properties
of God
are:
that He necessarily
exists,
that He
is One;
that He is,
and acts
solely
by the necessity
of His own nature;
that He
is the free cause
of all things;
that
all things
are in God,
and so
depend on Him,
that
without Him
they
could neither exist
nor
be conceived;
lastly,
that
all things
are pre-determined
by God,
not through
His free will
or
absolute fiat,
but
from the very nature
of God
or
infinite power."
[P. 63 - 64]
 
"Will
cannot be called
a Free Cause,
but only a
necessary
Cause.
 
In the mind
there is no
Absolute
or
Free
Will;
but
the mind
is determined
to Wish this
or that
by a cause,
which has also
been determined
by another cause,
and
this last
by another cause,
and so on
to
Infinity.
 
Men
are mistaken
in
thinking themselves
free;
their opinion
is made up
of
consciousness
of their own actions,
and
ignorance
of the causes
by which
they are
conditioned.
 
Their idea
of freedom,
therefore
is
simply their ignorance
of any cause
for their actions."
[p. 76 - 77]
 
"Therefore,
those
who believe
that they speak
or
keep silence
or
act in any way
from
the free decision
of their mind,
do
but dream
with
their eyes open."
[p. 79]
 
"This doctrine
raises
social life,
inasmuch as it teaches us
to hate no man,
neither to despise,
to deride,
to envy
or
to be angry
with any.
 
Further,
as it tells us
that each
should be content
with his own,
and
helpful to his neighbor,
not from any
womanish pity,
favor
or superstition,
but solely
by
the guidance of Reason,
according
as the time
and occasion
demand."
[p. 80]
 
"Pleasure
is
the transition
of a man
from
a less
to
a greater
perfection."
[p. 81]
 
" ... everyone
endeavors,
as far as possible,
to cause others
to love
what
he himself loves,
and to hate
what
he himself hates."
[p. 84]
 
"If a man
has
begun to hate
an object
of his Love,
so that
Love
is
thoroughly destroyed,
he
will regard it
with
more hatred
than if he had
never loved it,
and
his hatred
will be
in proportion
to
the strength
of
his former love.
 
He,
who
conceives himself
to be
hated
by another,
and
believes
that he
has given him
no cause
for hatred,
will
hate that other
in return.
 
If anyone
conceives
that he
is loved
by another,
and
believes
that
he has given
no cause
for such love,
he
will
love that other
in return.
 
If a man
has been affected
pleasurably
or
painfully
by anyone,
of a class
or nation
different
from his own,
the man
will feel love
or hatred
not only
to
the individual stranger,
but also
to
the whole class
or
nation
whereto he belongs.
 
Hatred
is
increased
by
being reciprocated,
and
can
on the other hand
be destroyed
by Love.
 
Hatred
which is
completely
vanquished
by Love
passes
into
Love:
and
Love
is thereupon
greater
than if
Hatred
had not
preceded it."
[p. 85 - 86]
 
+++

39. The "True Christian" as conditioned/engineered in "A Clockwork Orange"

Excerpts from Stanley Kubrick's
"A Clockwork Orange"
[the screenplay
for
the film]
based on
the novel by
Anthony Burgess,
1972
 
[Alex misses school,
telling his parents
he doesn't feel well.

He is exhausted
from being
up all night,
committing crimes of
ultra-violence,
and terrorizing
the neighborhood.
 
He has
an unexpected
visitor.]
 
Deltoid
[Truant Officer]
(to Alex):
"What
gets into
you all?
 
We study
the problem.
 
We've been
studying it
for damn well
near a century, yes,
but
we get no further
with our studies.
 
You've got
a good home
here,
good
loving parents,
you've got
not too bad
of a brain.
 
Is it
some devil
that crawls
inside of you?"
 
[page 81]
 
+
 
[Now, Alex
has been betrayed
by his own gang,
beaten up,
and left
for the Police to find.]
 
[At the
Police Station]
 
Inspector:
"Violence
makes
violence.
 
He resisted
his lawful
arrestors."
 
[p. 135]
 
+
 
[The Police
questioning
continues.]
 
Deltoid:
"I've
just come
from
the hospital.
 
Your victim
has died.
 
Alex:
You try
to
frighten me,
admit so,
sir.
 
This is
some new form
of torture,
say it,
brother, sir.
 
Deltoid:
It will be
your own
torture.

I hope to God
it will
torture you
to madness.
 
Tom
(interrogator):
"If you'd care
to
give him
a bash
in the chops,
sir,
don't mind us.
 
We'll
hold him down.
 
He must be
a great disappointment
to you, sir."
 
[pages 138 -139]
 
+
 
[Alex attends
the Prison Chapel,
where the Priest
gives a sermon.]
 
Priest:
"What's it
going to be
then?
 
Is it going to be
in and out
of institutions
like this,
though
more in
than out
for most of you?
 
Or are you
going to attend
the divine word
and
realize
the punishments
that await
unrepentant sinners
in the next world
as
well as this?
 
A lot of idiots
you are,
selling
your birthright
for
a saucer
of cold porridge,
the thrill
of theft,
of violence,
the urge
to live easy.
 
Well, I ask you,
what is it worth?
 
When we have
undeniable proof,
yes,
incontrovertible
evidence
that Hell exists.
 
I know,
I know,
my friends.
 
I have been informed
in visions
that there is
a place
darker
than
any prison,
hotter
than
any flame
of human fire,
where souls
of
unrepentant
criminal sinners
like yourselves ...
 
[A convict burps
-- all laugh.]
 
Don't you laugh,
damn you,
don't you laugh!!
 
I say
like yourselves,
scream
in endless
and
unendurable agony.
 
Their skin
rotting and peeling,
a fireball
spinning
in their
screaming guts.
 
I know ...
oh yes, I know."
 
[Someone blows
"raspberries".]
 
Chief Guard:
"I saw you,
920537!
 
I saw you!"
 
Priest:
"Quiet.
All right,
you lot.
 
We'll end
by
singing
Hymn 258
in the
Prisoners'
Hymnal."
 
[The singing
begins.]

Chief Guard:
"And,
let's have
a little reverence,
you bastards."
 
Singing:
"I was
a wandering
sheep."
 
Chief Guard:
"Come on,
sing up,
damn you."
 
Singing:
"I did not love..."
 
Chief Guard:
"Louder."
 
Singing:

"...the fold.

 
I did
not love
my shepherd's
voice.
 
I would not
be
controlled."
 
[pages 152 - 156]
 
+
 
[In Prison,
Alex reads the Bible.]
 
Alex (voice over):
"It was
my rabbit
to help
the prison charlie
with
the Sunday service.
 
He was
a bolshy
great burly bastard,
but
he was very fond
of myself,
me being
very young,
and also now
very interested
in the big book.
 
I read all about
the scourging
and
the crowning
with thorns
and
I could viddy myself
helping in
and
even
taking charge
of
the tolchocking
and
the nailing in,
being dressed
in the height
of Roman fashion.
 
I didn't so much
like
the latter part
of the book,
which is
more like
all preachy
talking
than
fighting
and
the old in-out.
 
I liked
the parts
where
these
old yahoodies
tolchock
each other
and
then drink
their Hebrew vino,
and
getting
onto the bed
with
their wives'
handmaidens.
 
That
kept me
going."
 
Priest:
"Seek not
to be like
evil men,
neither desire
to be
with them,
because
their minds
studieth
robberies
and
their lips
speak deceits."
 
[pages  158 - 164]
 
+
 
Priest:
"Is there
something
troubling you,
my son?
 
Don't be shy
to speak up.
 
Remember,
I know of the urges
that can trouble
young men
deprived
of the society
of women."
 
[page 165]
 
+
 
[Alex speaks
to the Priest
about
a new
experimental treatment
he's been hearing about,
that may be able
to "cure"
violent criminals.]
 
Priest:
"It has
not been used
in this prison yet.
 
The Governor
has
grave doubts
about it,
and
I have heard that
there are
very serious dangers
involved."
 
Alex:
"I don't care
about the dangers,
Father.
 
I just
want
to be good.
 
I want
for
the rest of my life
to be
one act
of goodness."
 
Priest:
"The question is
whether or not
this technique
really makes
a man
good.
 
Goodness
comes from
within.
 
Goodness
is
chosen.
 
When a man
cannot choose,
he ceases
to be a man."
 
Alex:
"I don't understand
about
the 'whys'
and 'wherefores',
Father,

I only know

I want
to be good."
 
Priest:
"Be patient,
my son.
 
Put your trust
in the Lord."
 
[pages  - 166]
 
+
 
[The Prison
is now visited
by the Minister
of the Government,
the Governor,
the Chief Guard
and other Guards.]
 
Minister:
"How many
to a cell?"
 
Governor:
"Four
in this block,
sir."
 
Minister:
"Cram criminals
together
and
what do you get -- ?

Concentrated
criminality;
crime
in the midst
of punishment."
 
Governor:
"I agree, sir,
what we need
are
larger prisons --
more money."
 
Minister:
"Not a chance,
my dear fellow.
 
The Government
can't be concerned
any longer
with
outmoded
penological theories.
 
Soon
we may be needing
all our prison space
for
political offenders.
 
Common criminals
like these
are
best dealt with
on
a purely
curative basis.
 
Kill
the criminal
reflex,
that's all.
 
Full
implementation
in
a year's time.
 
Punishment
means
nothing
to them,
you
can see that.
 
They enjoy
their
so-called
punishment."
 
Alex:
"You're
absolutely right,
sir."
 
Chief Guard:
"Shut your
bleeding hole!"
 
Minister:
"Who
said that?"
 
Alex:
"I did,
sir."
 
Minister:
"What crime
did you commit?"
 
Alex:
"The accidental
killing
of a person, sir."
 
Chief Guard:
"He brutally
murdered
a woman,
sir,
in furtherance
of theft.
 
Fourteen years ...
sir!"
 
Minister:
"Excellent.
 
He's
enterprising,
aggressive,
outgoing,
young,
bold,
vicious.
 
He'll do."
 
Governor:
"Well, fine ...
we could
still look
at C-Block."
 
Minister:
"No, no, no,
that's enough.
 
He's perfect.
 
I want
his records
sent to me.
 
This vicious
young hoodlum
will be
transformed
out of all recognition."
 
[pages 170 - 171]
 
+
 
[Later,
Alex is summoned
to the Governor's office,
to be
entered into the program
for Prisoner Retraining.]
 
Chief Guard:
"Forward
to
the white line;
toes
behind it.
 
Full name
and
number
to the Governor."
 
Alex:
"Alexander de Large,
sir.
 
655321, sir."
 
Governor:
"I don't suppose
you know
who that was
this morning,
do you?
 
That was
no less a personage
than
the Minister
of the Interior.
 
The new
Minister of the Interior
and
what they call
'a very new broom'.
 
Well,
these new
ridiculous ideas
have come
at last,
and
'orders are orders',
though
I may
say to you,
in confidence,
I do not approve.
 
An
eye
for
an eye,
I say.
 
If someone
hits you,
you hit back,
do you not?
 
Why then
should not
the State,
very severely hit
by you
brutal hooligans,
not
hit back also?
 
But
the view
is
to say no.
 
The
new view
is that
we turn
the bad
into good.
 
All of which
seems to me
to be
grossly unjust.
 
Eh?"
 
[pages 172 - 174]
 
+
 
[Alex is released
into the hands
of the scientists
who hope
to reform him,
through
unconventionally
radical
behavior-changing
means.]
 
Chief Guard:
"If I may offer
a word of advice, Doc.
 
You'll have to
watch this one.
 
A right brutal
bastard
he has been
and
will be again,
in spite of all
his sucking up
to
the prison Chaplain,
and
reading the Bible."
 
[page 182]
 
+
 
[Undergoing
"Treatment",
Alex
is given
behavior-altering
medications,
and
forced to watch
films of ultra-violence,
his eyes held open
by special instruments
that
do not allow them
to close.]
 
Alex (voice over):
"So far,
the first film
was
a very good,
professional piece
of sinny,
like it was done
in Hollywood.
 
The sounds
were
real horrorshow.
 
You could
slooshy
the screams and moans
very realistic,
and
you could even get
the heavy breathing
and panting
of
the tolchocking
malchicks
at the same time.
 
And then,
what do
you know,
soon
our dear old friend,
the red, red vino
on tap
[blood],
the same
in all places
like it's put out
by
the same big firm,
began to flow.
 
It was beautiful.
 
It's funny
how the colors
of the real world
only seem
really real
when you viddy them
on the screen.
 
Now all the time
I was watching this,
I was beginning to get
very aware
of like
not feeling
all that well,
and this
I put down to
all the rich food
and vitamins,
but
I tried to forget this,
concentrating
on the next film,
which jumped
right away
on a young devotchka
who was being given
the old
in-out, in-out
first
by one malchick,
then
another,
then another.
 
When it came
to the sixth
or seventh malchick,
leering
and smecking
and then
going into it,
I began
to feel really sick.
 
But I could not
shut my glazzies.
 
And even if I tried
to move
my glazz-balls about,
I still
could not get out
of the line of fire
of this picture."
 
Alex:
"Get me up!
 
I want
to be sick!
 
Get something
for me
to be sick in!
 
I want
to be sick!"
 
Dr. Brodsky
(softly, to those around him):
"Very soon now,
the drug will cause
the subject
to experience
a death-like paralysis,
together with
deep feelings
of terror
and helplessness."
 
Alex (offscreen):
"I can't stand it
any more."
 
Dr. Brodsky:
"One of
our early test subjects
described it
as being
like death,
a sense
of stifling
or drowning,
and
it is during this period
we have found
that
the subject
will make his most
rewarding associations
between
his catastrophic
experience-environment
and
the violence
he sees."
 
[pages 193  - 200]
 
+
 
[Later,
Alex speaks
with Dr. Branom,
another
of the doctors
treating him.]
 
Alex:
"It was horrible."
 
Dr. Branom:
"Of course
it was horrible.
 
Violence
is a very
horrible thing.
 
That's what
you're learning
now.
 
Your body
is learning it."
 
Alex:
"I just
don't understand
about feeling sick
the way I did.
 
I never used to
feel sick before.
 
I used to feel
like
the very opposite.

I mean,
doing it
or watching it,
I used to feel
real horrorshow."
 
Dr. Branom:
"You felt ill
this afternoon
because
you're getting better.
 
You see,
when
we are healthy,
we respond
to the presence
of the hateful
with fear
and nausea.
 
You're becoming
healthy,
that's all.
 
By this time tomorrow,
you'll be healthier still."
 
[pages  201 - 203]
 
+
 
[During his
drug-therapy
conditioning
(watching films
of ultra-violence)
Alex notices
that
his favorite music
is playing --
the Ninth Symphony
by Beethoven --
and that it is
now being
fused in his mind
with
the sickening inhumanity
of war and murder.]
 
Alex:
"Stop it!!!
 
Stop it!!!
 
Please!!!
 
I beg you!!!
 
It's a sin...
 
It's a sin...
 
It's a sin!"
 
Dr. Brodsky:
"Sin?
 
What's all this
about sin?"
 
Alex:
"That!!!
 
Using
Ludwig van
like that!
 
He did
no harm
to anyone.
 
Beethoven
just
wrote music!"
 
[pages 211 - 212]
 
+
 
[Desperate
to be relieved
of suffering,
Alex pretends
to be fully cured.]
 
Alex:
"You needn't take it
any further, sir.
 
You've proved to me
that
all this ultra-violence
and killing
is wrong, wrong
and terribly wrong.
 
I've learned
my lesson, sir.
 
I see now
what I've never seen
before.
 
I'm cured,
praise God!!"
 
Dr. Brodsky:
"You're not cured
yet, boy."
 
Alex:
"But sir,
missus,
I see
that it's wrong!
 
It's wrong
because it's like
against society.
 
It's wrong
because
everybody has the right
to live and be happy
without being
tolchocked and knifed.
 
[But Alex's
"treatment" continues.]
 

[pages 218 - 219]

 

+

 
[Following
his treatment,
Alex is displayed
to an audience
by the Minister,
who explains
what has been
accomplished
in this case.]
 
Minister:
"Prison taught him
the false smile,
the rubbed hand
of hypocrisy,
the fawning,
greased
obsequious leer.
 
Other vices
it taught him,
as well as
confirming him in those
he had
long practiced before.
 
Our party
promised to restore
law and order
and
to make the streets
safe again
for
the ordinary
peace-loving citizen.
 
This pledge
is now
about to become
a reality.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
today is
an historic moment.
 
The problem
of criminal violence
is soon to be
a thing
of the past.
 
[A demonstration
follows,
that indicates
that Alex
no longer
is capable
of committing
any act of violence
at all.]
 
[pages 222 - 223]
 
+
 
[The demonstration
is complete.]
 
Alex:
"Was it
alright, sir?
 
Did I
do well, sir?
 
Minister:
"Fine,
my boy,
absolutely fine.
 
You see,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
our subject
is impelled towards
the good
by
paradoxically
being impelled
towards evil.
 
The intention
to act violently
is accompanied
by strong feelings
of physical distress.
 
To counter these,
the subject
has to switch
to
a diametrically
opposed
attitude.
 
Any questions?

Priest:
"Choice!
 
The boy
has no real choice,
has he?
 
Self interest,
the fear
of physical pain
drove him
to that
grotesque act
of self abasement.
 
Its insincerity
was clearly
to be seen.
 
He ceases
to be
a wrongdoer.
 
He ceases also
to be a creature
capable
of moral choice."
 
Minister:
"Padre,
these are
subtleties!
 
We are
not concerned
with motives,
with
the higher ethics.
 
We are
concerned
only with
cutting down
crime.
 
And with
relieving
the ghastly
congestion
in our prisons.
 
He will be
your true Christian,
ready
to turn
the other cheek,
ready
to be crucified
rather
than crucify.
 
Sick
to the very heart
at the thought
even
of killing a fly.
 
Reclamation,
joy before
the angels
of God.
 
The point is
that it works!"
 
[pages 239 - 242]
 
[Alex's story
continues,
as he is released
back into the world,
incapable
of committing
violent acts
against others.
 
And then
his Past
catches up to him.
 
I recommend
watching the film
to see how
Alex's "cure"
affects him.]
 
+++