Mind Control, Doublthink and Who controls the Past
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What is crimestop?
A: Crimestop refers to the process of stopping, of checking oneself, before committing a thoughtcrime--that is, before even thinking anything contradictory to the ideology of the Party. It requires the abandonment of any logical thought which speaks against Ingsoc. It is the system of self-monitoring which is ingrained in the citizens of Oceania.
Q: What is blackwhite?
A: Blackwhite refers to how the Party deals with facts. Party members must be prepared and willing to say and believe that black is white, and to abandon any memory of thinking otherwise. This corresponds with the Party's alteration of the past.
Q: What is doublethink?
A: Doublethink is the power of holding two contradictory beliefs. Party members know which of their thoughts must be believed, and which way their memories have to be altered. Through the process of doublethink, party members can keep both thoughts in their head and therefore "reality" is not technically violated.
Q: How does doublethink allow the oligarchy to remain in power forever?
A: In the past oligarchies fell because their subjects were either too conscious or unconscious. Through the doublethink the party is able to rule simultaneously through an conscious and unconscious state. Because of doublethink, the Party "has been able for thousands of years-to arrest the course of history."
Q: Why is it necessary to alter the past?
A: People are unable to claim that conditions are getting worse because they have no standards of comparison. It is believed by the people that standards are improving compared to those of their ancestors. It also presents the party as infalliable because by constantely updating facts the party never seems weak. It allows the party to be whatever they claim.
Q: How do Big Brother and the Ministry of Truth accomplish this?
A: This is accomplished through the constant updating of facts and events so that the party is presented however they wish to be. People become accustomed to forgetting and learning different events and facts as the party wishes.
Q: How does controlled insanity allow Ingsoc to succeed?
A: Doublethink--a key component of controlled insanity--is essentially what allows Ingsoc to succeed where past regimes have failed. This doublethink allows members of the Party to believe that the Party is invincible and infallible, and always has been, while at the same time being able to learn from the mistakes of history in order to avoid them and maintain control.
Q: What is crimestop?
A: Crimestop refers to the process of stopping, of checking oneself, before committing a thoughtcrime--that is, before even thinking anything contradictory to the ideology of the Party. It requires the abandonment of any logical thought which speaks against Ingsoc. It is the system of self-monitoring which is ingrained in the citizens of Oceania.
Q: What is blackwhite?
A: Blackwhite refers to how the Party deals with facts. Party members must be prepared and willing to say and believe that black is white, and to abandon any memory of thinking otherwise. This corresponds with the Party's alteration of the past.
Q: What is doublethink?
A: Doublethink is the power of holding two contradictory beliefs. Party members know which of their thoughts must be believed, and which way their memories have to be altered. Through the process of doublethink, party members can keep both thoughts in their head and therefore "reality" is not technically violated.
Q: How does doublethink allow the oligarchy to remain in power forever?
A: In the past oligarchies fell because their subjects were either too conscious or unconscious. Through the doublethink the party is able to rule simultaneously through an conscious and unconscious state. Because of doublethink, the Party "has been able for thousands of years-to arrest the course of history."
Q: Why is it necessary to alter the past?
A: People are unable to claim that conditions are getting worse because they have no standards of comparison. It is believed by the people that standards are improving compared to those of their ancestors. It also presents the party as infalliable because by constantely updating facts the party never seems weak. It allows the party to be whatever they claim.
Q: How do Big Brother and the Ministry of Truth accomplish this?
A: This is accomplished through the constant updating of facts and events so that the party is presented however they wish to be. People become accustomed to forgetting and learning different events and facts as the party wishes.
Q: How does controlled insanity allow Ingsoc to succeed?
A: Doublethink--a key component of controlled insanity--is essentially what allows Ingsoc to succeed where past regimes have failed. This doublethink allows members of the Party to believe that the Party is invincible and infallible, and always has been, while at the same time being able to learn from the mistakes of history in order to avoid them and maintain control.
