Consider Phlebas

Across the vast expanse of Consider Phlebas, a universe teeming with sentient life grapples with the fundamental question of existence. Characters—whether human, machine, or alien—echo a relentless pursuit of purpose in a galaxy embroiled in conflict. Banks explores the complex and often destructive nature of this pursuit, revealing how the quest for purpose can lead to both societal advancement and catastrophic conflict.

The Culture, an advanced post-scarcity society, epitomizes the pursuit of purpose on a grand scale. With their needs and desires met primarily by advanced technology and artificial intelligence, the Culture’s citizens face an existential dilemma: the danger of stagnation and complacency. To counter this, the Culture actively seeks purpose through exploration, intervention, and conflict. As Banks notes:

The Culture’s sole justification for the relatively unworried, hedonistic life its population enjoyed was its good works; the secular evangelism of the Contact Section, not simply finding, cataloguing, investigating and analyzing other, less advanced civilizations but—where the circumstances appeared to Contact to justify so doing—actually interfering (overtly or covertly) in the historical processes of those other cultures (498).

Thus, the Culture’s society relies on fulfilling its existential need for purpose by intervening in and “helping” less advanced civilizations. The paternalism here, particularly in the Culture’s political interference in other countries, parallels and critiques real-life instances of imperialism. Despite their seemingly utopian existence, the Culture’s participation in the Idiran-Culture war underscores their underlying need for a unifying challenge to validate their existence. The war provides direction and engagement, countering the potential ennui of a post-scarcity society. Their interventionist approach, framed as promoting progress and stability, reveals a deeper need to impose their values and maintain relevance and dynamism.

The Culture’s pursuit of purpose is intricately linked to the Minds, in which the distinction between organic and artificial consciousness becomes blurred. Minds, the Culture’s governing entities, are not merely tools but extensions of societal consciousness, challenging traditional notions of selfhood and purpose. While humans might find meaning in personal relationships, experiences, or creative endeavors, the Minds’ purpose is more abstract: to optimize the Culture’s functioning itself. This raises questions about the nature of consciousness and the limits of a purely rational existence, particularly whether a society driven solely by logic and efficiency can truly find fulfillment. The Culture’s reliance on these advanced machines illustrates their commitment to a rational and empirical approach to governance. However, this reliance on rationality and empirical analysis often conflicts with the unpredictable realities of war and the complexities of human (or AI) nature.

Through characters like Fal ‘Ngeestra, who possesses unique precognitive abilities, the Culture’s internal struggle to reconcile their ideals with the practical demands of warfare and meet the needs of their biological members becomes evident. This tension highlights the broader difficulties faced by a society striving to maintain its intellectual freedom and sense of purpose amid the chaotic and often irrational nature of interstellar conflict. Thus, the Culture’s pursuit of purpose involves navigating the inherent contradictions between their ideals and the harsh realities they encounter, revealing the limitations of technological solutions to address existential and moral dilemmas.

In contrast, the Idirans pursue purpose through religious zeal and a theocratic worldview. They believe in a divine mandate to impose order on the galaxy, interpreting their expansionist ambitions as a holy crusade. Their spiritual beliefs are deeply intertwined with their sense of purpose, infusing their actions with a strong sense of destiny and righteousness. They use this religious conviction to justify their use of force and readiness to sacrifice countless lives. Their pursuit of purpose through conquest and domination sharply contrasts with the Culture’s more abstract and philosophical approach, highlighting societies’ diverse methods of defining their reason for existence. Despite their different approaches, both the Culture and the Idirans view the “lesser” civilizations they intervene in with contempt, denying them the sense of purpose that they crave themselves.

At the individual level, characters like Horza and Kraiklyn illustrate the personal dimensions of the pursuit of purpose. Horza, a Changer aligned with the Idirans, embodies the existential struggle to find meaning and identity in a chaotic universe. Initially, Horza defines his purpose through opposition to the Culture, which he views as oppressive. However, as the narrative progresses, Horza’s experiences force him to confront the complexities and contradictions of his chosen path. His commitment to the Idirans becomes increasingly fraught as he grapples with the moral ambiguities of war and his own shifting motivations. Throughout his journey, Horza loses his purpose and identity, even forgetting his name as he becomes entangled in the brutal realities of the conflict. His transformation illustrates the impact that the pursuit of purpose can have on an individual, revealing how disorienting this quest can become when faced with harsh truths.

Similarly, Kraiklyn, the leader of the Free Company, seeks purpose through the game of Damage—a lethal and high-stakes competition mirroring the broader war’s chaos and brutality. Kraiklyn’s obsession with Damage symbolizes a nihilistic pursuit of purpose, driven by a desire for thrill and dominance. Unlike the ideological or philosophical motivations of the Culture and the Idirans, Kraiklyn’s pursuit is rooted in personal ambition and a quest for validation through violence. His character is a stark reminder of the destructive potential of a purpose driven solely by self-interest and the quest for power.

In the cosmic tapestry of Consider Phlebas, the pursuit of purpose emerges as a driving force, shaping civilizations and individuals alike. From the Culture’s quest for intellectual stimulation to the Idirans’ religious fervor, Banks reveals a universe consumed by the search for meaning. Horza and Kraiklyn, in their own ways, embody the human condition’s desperate yearning for purpose, even in the face of overwhelming chaos. The novel suggests that while pursuing purpose can inspire greatness, it can also be destructive, leading to conflict, suffering, and even nihilism. Consider Phlebas is a stark reminder that in a universe indifferent to human aspirations, the quest for meaning is a double-edged sword.