Stability Essay Example

Stability, written by Philip Dick, is a short science-fiction story narrating some events as they take place in the future. In the story, Robert Benton, the main character, is taken to task by the government of the day for allegedly making a machine which would destabilize the world. Benton denies making such an invention, but is ordered (by the controller) to go and collect his “invention” from the patenting office. Although Stability is a fictitious story, it portrays some of the social, development and geopolitical challenges that are already existing, or maybe experienced in the future.
In Stability, the author portrays a scenario whereby mankind has reached the peak of invention. The number of new innovations falls drastically and mankind attains the highest level of civilization possible. However, one thing worries the administrators: something must be done to maintain a state of stability. As the controller explains, from time immemorial “It is a law of nature, however, that civilization must either go forward or fall backward; it cannot stand still.” Worried that civilization is now under threat, the administrators resolve to use stabilization as a solution to counter the declining level of civilization.
However, the people react angrily when they first realize about the secret deal aimed at maintaining a state of stability in the world. The plan would deny them their rights, and make living unbearable. As a result, riots break out, wars arise, economies crash, food prices rise and mass starvation begins. On the other hand, the administrators do not allow any voices of dissent, and radicals are carted away. Inventions are controlled and any innovations that are deemed to be anti-stabilization are dispensed with at the earliest opportunity. A good example is Benton, whom the authorities want to cart away for allegedly making a timepiece which would destroy the state of stability. However, Benton breaks the glass that the authorities are looking for, and this brings a sense of freedom and joy to him as he enters “the city of lightness.”
Putting matters into context, Philip Dick’s story, Stability, is of great importance to the world of sociology because it highlights some of the social, development and economic issues facing the world today. The world is in a situation whereby some powers want to control the freedom of the people, and everything that they do. As a result, some governments have put unnecessary measures to “punish” any voices of dissent amongst them, and enforced their ideas on the people. On the other hand, the people, represented by the city of lightness, have realized these evil designs and it is the reasons why riots are breaking out in many parts of the world. Going by the story, the wars that are coming up today, the stock market crashes and other unfamiliar socio-economic issues are coming up as a result of the desperate attempts to “stabilize” the world. However, as the author concludes in the story, the people will eventually overcome these challenges and realize the freedom and benefits offered in the “city of lightness.”
In conclusion, Philip Dick’s story, Stability, is a perfect reminder of the anarchy meted on the people by authoritarian regimes. In the story, the government controls people’s lives, and infringes on their freedoms and rights. This is the reason why inventions have to be checked by the control office to ensure that they do not “destabilize” the world. This forces people to react by rioting, and the government responds by carting away people with dissenting voices. However, all this could be attributed to the peaking of civilization, which makes it necessary to come up with mechanisms that ensure a state of stability is maintained.