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Prelude to Foundation
448 pages, 2020
The Foundation Trilogy is a science fiction masterpiece by Isaac Asimov, beginning with the year 12,020 G. E. , in which Emperor Cleon I sits on the throne of Trantor.
Here, in the great multi-domed capital of the Galactic Empire, forty billion people have created a civilization of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Yet, there are those who would see him fall: his enemies, whom he would destroy if only he could read the future.
Hari Seldon has come to Trantor to deliver his paper on psychohistory—his brilliant theory of prediction—little knowing that he will seal his fate and that of humanity itself. ”
In Prelude to Foundation, Isaac Asimov introduces us to the concept of psychohistory, a science that combines history, sociology, and mathematical statistics to predict the future. This concept encourages us to explore the potential of predictive analysis in our own lives and industries.
The protagonist, Hari Seldon, is driven by his intellectual curiosity to develop psychohistory. His journey reminds us to always stay curious, ask questions, and seek knowledge, as it can lead to groundbreaking discoveries.
Asimov shows us how different environments and cultures on Trantor influence Hari's development of psychohistory. This encourages us to look into how our own environments shape our perspectives and ideas.
While psychohistory is about predicting the behavior of large groups, Asimov doesn't ignore the role of individuals. He shows us that individual actions can have significant impacts on the course of history, reminding us of our own potential to make a difference.
In the book, Hari grapples with the ethical implications of his predictive science. This invites us to consider the ethical dimensions of our own knowledge and innovations. It's not just about what we can do, but what we should do.
