There is something dangerously seductive about the idea of being able to deliberately plant an idea, cut down to its simplest form, so that it can take hold in the human psyche and self propagate like a virus. Whilst bravely putting to one side the whole of the advertising and marketing industries, I have recently been prompted to ponder the genesis and success of some quite influential ideas: There is but one God . Love thy neighbour as thyself. Christ died for our sins . From each according to his abilities , to each according to his needs; God is dead . Survival of the fittest . Anatomy is destiny . E = mc2 . Let freedom ring . Every man has his price . The answer is blowin' in the wind . You've nothing to lose except your chains . You are only limited by your imagination. Freedom is a myth . Language determines how you think. It's time . The selfish gene . The greenhouse effect . The tipping...
Stirring grist, grizzle and gore to flavour the stew.