Asimov Understood That A New Foundation Could Not Be Built Atop A Dying Empire

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The Foundation Series is the story of a dying galactic empire and the scientist who helps establish a foundation for a new, more enduring galactic organization. Through the use of the science of psychohistory, he foresees through the laws of history that the empire is unable to avoid its demise.

In the second book of the series, Foundation And Empire, a competent and ambitious general engages in campaigns to win back territories that have seceded from the empire. It seems like he might be capable of strengthening the empire and putting it back on track. There is one problem: the mediocrities who have risen to positions of power in the empire view him as a threat to their power. In a dying empire, mediocrity rises. People are not promoted on their ability to shake things up but on their unwillingness to rock the boat. Power rests not in the hands of the ambitious or the moral or even the competent, but in the hands of the comfortable, those who believe they deserve their station not due to performance but through their ability to fit the system. Therefore, the threat of the competent and ambitious general who might have saved the empire is quickly dealt with. With him out of the way, the demise of the empire continues unabated, while those who hold positions of privilege in the empire maintain their first-class…