By the end of his life Philip K. Dick became convinced that all his novels are not fiction but truth — that they weren’t invented by him but rather transmitted through him by a benign entity trying to save humanity from doom — basically by Ubik itself. If what PKD thought was true, then he was a prophet-like figure who just shared his revelations. But instead of sermons, he did it through the form of science fiction novels.
Ooo. Also, check out the parent directory. Lots there. Full texts of books. This was a small group and they didn’t want his stuff to be owned or rather wanted it to be totally available to the public. One of the guys was part of the transcription process that produced the published version. Sorry. Kind of a pkd nerd. I don’t think this info is widely known though, so hopefully this interests someone.
This article was so good, I subscribed, again. Also, I loved the last podcast you guys put out. 2 things I love? I’m sold.
Oh, but, something to share if anyone is interested. Idk if anyone knew about or participated in the zebrapedia project of transcribing copies of pkd notebook pages from the original exegesis. All the parts that were not included in what got published. I think the project is now shut down. But I found this link in the old Google group which should interest fans.
Some social science on predicting and stopping sociopaths:
Organisational sociopaths:
rarely challenged, often
promoted. Why?
Richard J. Pech and Bret W. Slade
Faculty of Law and Management, Graduate School of Management,
La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
Abstract
Purpose – Organisations sometimes select and promote the wrong individuals for managerial
positions. These individuals may be incompetent, they may be manipulators and bullies. They are not
the best people for the job and yet not only are they selected for positions of authority and
responsibility, they are sometimes promoted repeatedly until their kind populate the highest levels of
the organisational hierarchy. The purpose of this paper is to address this phenomenon by attempting
to explain why it occurs and why organisational members tolerate such destructive practices.
It concludes by proposing a cultural strategy to protect the organisation and its stakeholders from the
ambitious machinations of the organisational sociopath.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors develop an explanatory framework by attempting
to combine elements of the theory of memetics with structuration theory. Memetic theory helps to
analyse culture and communication of beliefs, ideas, and thoughts. Structuration theory can be used to identify motives and drives. A combination of these theoretical approaches can be used to identify the motives of organisational sociopaths. Such a tool is also useful for exploring the high level of
organisation tolerance for sociopathic managers.
Findings – Organisational tolerance and acceptance for sociopathic managerial behaviour appears to
be
[->] a consequence of cultural and structural complexity.
While this has been known for some time, few
authors have posited an adequate range of explanations and solutions to protect stakeholders and
prevent the sociopath from exploiting organisational weaknesses. Reduction of cultural and structural
complexity may provide a partial solution. Transparency, communication of strong ethical values,
promotion based on performance, directed cooperation, and rewards that reinforce high performing
and acceptable behaviour are all necessary to protect against individuals with sociopathic tendencies.
Originality/value – The authors provide a new cultural diagnostic tool by combining elements of
memetic theory with elements of structuration theory. The subsequent framework can be used to
protect organisations from becoming the unwitting victims of sociopaths seeking to realise and fulfil
their needs and ambitions through a managerial career path.
...
Introduction
Research has identified numerous causes and explanations for managerial bullying,
deceit, manipulation, and greed. This includes the existence of psychological traits
such as narcissism, where managers misuse the organisation as a vehicle for furthering
their own goals at the organisation’s expense, using tactics such as manipulation and
exploitation (Lasch, 1979). When such bullying behaviours occur without remorse, or
goals of self gratification are pursued without consideration for the well-being of
others, they can be termed as sociopathic behaviours. Surprisingly, and in apparent
contradiction to every rational management principle, Kets de Vries (2003) points out
(cont.)
---
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
For the ultimate Bay Area bummer Dickian vibes, check out his Dr. Bloodmoney, I had to put it down because it was too familiar in its hapless Market Street characters as it’s Marin aging hippies in their dilapidated, moss & mold homes… never mind the encroaching technofeudalists… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Bloodmoney,_or_How_We_Got_Along_After_the_Bomb
a very interesting analysis. Even though I liked the Blade Runner movie its an interesting point that Ridley Scott overlooked the dark humour, at times satire which is part of PDK. yes, valid point. I like the minor work: Confessions of a crap artist. the narrator who has pscyhological problems is less threatening and dangerous than his acquisitive sister and brother in law, the ones who want to protect him. technology and capitalism seem intertwined as you need coins etc.
Nice read. I haven't picked up any Philip K Dick since early college. A couple of things came to mind.
I don't think Ridley Scott wanted to (nor was he a capable enough director of the type of film we hypothesize) faithfully depict every aspect of PKD's world in "Blade Runner" but rather took it on in the same manner as Stanley Kubrick handled "The Shining" (an adaptation that Stephen King hated for a while). Both are excellent films taken on their own merits. Contrast that with "The Hobbit" trilogy where Peter Jackson (in a pure money grab) decided to turn a short book for kids into an epic three part series. He managed to capture a lot of the smaller details of the book (and Tolkien's greater world) and the movies actually suffered for it.
I think the correct spelling is Paul Verhoeven (you may have corrected it in the article, but it was misspelled in the email) and I loved "Total Recall" as well. He also did "Robocop" IIRC, and that, along with "Starship Troopers" (both pre-9/11!) have become pre-documentaries in the time since they were released. Sadly, the same holds true for Mike Judge's "Idiocracy."
Thanks for this reminder that maybe it's time to revisit some PKD.
Philip K. Dick’s fiction is our nonfiction
Ooo. Also, check out the parent directory. Lots there. Full texts of books. This was a small group and they didn’t want his stuff to be owned or rather wanted it to be totally available to the public. One of the guys was part of the transcription process that produced the published version. Sorry. Kind of a pkd nerd. I don’t think this info is widely known though, so hopefully this interests someone.
This article was so good, I subscribed, again. Also, I loved the last podcast you guys put out. 2 things I love? I’m sold.
Oh, but, something to share if anyone is interested. Idk if anyone knew about or participated in the zebrapedia project of transcribing copies of pkd notebook pages from the original exegesis. All the parts that were not included in what got published. I think the project is now shut down. But I found this link in the old Google group which should interest fans.
https://mudcat.org/pkd/assets/foldertextfiles/
Also, pretty sure it is VALIS, not UBIK.
Next do the character of Mercer in the novel. Fred Rogers?
Good article. I am going to read some PKD again. Since I live in SF too, it should be interesting.
I love this! (Not much to contribute otherwise)
Some social science on predicting and stopping sociopaths:
Organisational sociopaths:
rarely challenged, often
promoted. Why?
Richard J. Pech and Bret W. Slade
Faculty of Law and Management, Graduate School of Management,
La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
Abstract
Purpose – Organisations sometimes select and promote the wrong individuals for managerial
positions. These individuals may be incompetent, they may be manipulators and bullies. They are not
the best people for the job and yet not only are they selected for positions of authority and
responsibility, they are sometimes promoted repeatedly until their kind populate the highest levels of
the organisational hierarchy. The purpose of this paper is to address this phenomenon by attempting
to explain why it occurs and why organisational members tolerate such destructive practices.
It concludes by proposing a cultural strategy to protect the organisation and its stakeholders from the
ambitious machinations of the organisational sociopath.
Design/methodology/approach – The authors develop an explanatory framework by attempting
to combine elements of the theory of memetics with structuration theory. Memetic theory helps to
analyse culture and communication of beliefs, ideas, and thoughts. Structuration theory can be used to identify motives and drives. A combination of these theoretical approaches can be used to identify the motives of organisational sociopaths. Such a tool is also useful for exploring the high level of
organisation tolerance for sociopathic managers.
Findings – Organisational tolerance and acceptance for sociopathic managerial behaviour appears to
be
[->] a consequence of cultural and structural complexity.
While this has been known for some time, few
authors have posited an adequate range of explanations and solutions to protect stakeholders and
prevent the sociopath from exploiting organisational weaknesses. Reduction of cultural and structural
complexity may provide a partial solution. Transparency, communication of strong ethical values,
promotion based on performance, directed cooperation, and rewards that reinforce high performing
and acceptable behaviour are all necessary to protect against individuals with sociopathic tendencies.
Originality/value – The authors provide a new cultural diagnostic tool by combining elements of
memetic theory with elements of structuration theory. The subsequent framework can be used to
protect organisations from becoming the unwitting victims of sociopaths seeking to realise and fulfil
their needs and ambitions through a managerial career path.
...
Introduction
Research has identified numerous causes and explanations for managerial bullying,
deceit, manipulation, and greed. This includes the existence of psychological traits
such as narcissism, where managers misuse the organisation as a vehicle for furthering
their own goals at the organisation’s expense, using tactics such as manipulation and
exploitation (Lasch, 1979). When such bullying behaviours occur without remorse, or
goals of self gratification are pursued without consideration for the well-being of
others, they can be termed as sociopathic behaviours. Surprisingly, and in apparent
contradiction to every rational management principle, Kets de Vries (2003) points out
(cont.)
---
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1746-5680.htm
SBR
2,3
254
Society and Business Review
Vol. 2 No. 3, 2007
pp. 254-269
q Emerald Group Publishing Limited
1746-5680
DOI 10.1108/17465680710825451
That was pretty good, thanks Evgenia, but the gratuitous smear at the end didn't add anything.
For the ultimate Bay Area bummer Dickian vibes, check out his Dr. Bloodmoney, I had to put it down because it was too familiar in its hapless Market Street characters as it’s Marin aging hippies in their dilapidated, moss & mold homes… never mind the encroaching technofeudalists… https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Bloodmoney,_or_How_We_Got_Along_After_the_Bomb
a very interesting analysis. Even though I liked the Blade Runner movie its an interesting point that Ridley Scott overlooked the dark humour, at times satire which is part of PDK. yes, valid point. I like the minor work: Confessions of a crap artist. the narrator who has pscyhological problems is less threatening and dangerous than his acquisitive sister and brother in law, the ones who want to protect him. technology and capitalism seem intertwined as you need coins etc.
Nice read. I haven't picked up any Philip K Dick since early college. A couple of things came to mind.
I don't think Ridley Scott wanted to (nor was he a capable enough director of the type of film we hypothesize) faithfully depict every aspect of PKD's world in "Blade Runner" but rather took it on in the same manner as Stanley Kubrick handled "The Shining" (an adaptation that Stephen King hated for a while). Both are excellent films taken on their own merits. Contrast that with "The Hobbit" trilogy where Peter Jackson (in a pure money grab) decided to turn a short book for kids into an epic three part series. He managed to capture a lot of the smaller details of the book (and Tolkien's greater world) and the movies actually suffered for it.
I think the correct spelling is Paul Verhoeven (you may have corrected it in the article, but it was misspelled in the email) and I loved "Total Recall" as well. He also did "Robocop" IIRC, and that, along with "Starship Troopers" (both pre-9/11!) have become pre-documentaries in the time since they were released. Sadly, the same holds true for Mike Judge's "Idiocracy."
Thanks for this reminder that maybe it's time to revisit some PKD.