Jan 4, 2013

Orwellian Mambo-Jumbo


George Orwell (1984) says:

"He who controls the past controls the future.
He who controls the present controls the past.”

I am confused. Even after applying my little knowledge of Aristotlean Logic this great statement of Orwell doesn't make any sense.

Let's syllogistically analyse the premises:

He who controls the past controls the future                             (1st Premise - Major / Minor Premise)
He who controls the present controls the past                          (2nd Premise - Major / Minor Premise)
_____________________________________________________________________________
Therefore, He who controls the future controls the present       (1st  - Conclusion)
Therefore, He who controls the present controls the past         (2nd - Conclusion)

Certainly the 1st Conclusion is close to realism, but then the tense seems to be the problem. Can anyone help?

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