Robert Shea
Robert Shea
Robert Joseph Sheawas an American novelist and former journalist best known as co-author with Robert Anton Wilson of the science fantasy trilogy Illuminatus!. It became a cult success and was later turned into a marathon-length stage show put on at the British National Theatre and elsewhere. In 1986 it won the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award. Shea went on to write several action novels based in exotic historical settings...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth14 February 1933
CountryUnited States of America
That the more authoritarian organizations survive and prevail goes generally unnoticed because people focus on the objectives of organizations, which are many and varied, rather than on their structures, which lend to be similar.
Because the better an organization is at fulfilling its purpose, the more it attracts people who see the organization as an opportunity to advance themselves.
As such people achieve influence within the organization, whenever there is a conflict between their own interest and the interest of the organization, their interests will win out.
Of all human inventions the organization, a machine constructed of people performing interdependent functions, is the most powerful.
We ought to work collaboratively to fix what is now broken, which is a system that provides across-the-board pay raises to everyone regardless of their performance.
The world of work is not a straightforward career ladder as it was years ago. It's more like a jungle gym.
This whole phenomenon of the diversion of organizations from their purposes and ideals does not seem very serious when the scum rise to the top in the bridge club or the offices of a small magazine publisher.
Indeed, one of the most successful and influential religious organizations in history, the Society of Jesus, was consciously modeled along military lines by its founder, Ignatius Loyola.
It is instructive, for instance, to trace the computer industry's decline in vision, idealism, creativity, romance and sheer fun as it becomes more and more important and prosperous.
The Gnostics were rapidly driven out of business by the hierarchical orthodox Christians.
Military organization, like religious organization, can be seen as a paradigm of organization in general.
But instead I usually say that, though it may surprise them, I too believe in the necessity of organization.
Indeed, if our ancestors of millions of years ago hadn't learned how to care for one another and hunt in packs, they'd all have ended up being eaten by leopards.
To reject even one major tenet of the religion or to violate one major rule of behavior is enough to get one kicked out - or worse.