Political Ponerology: A Science on the Nature of Evil Adjusted for Political Purposes

Disregarding the pathologic aspects of those occurrences and

limiting interpretation thereof by historiographic and moral

considerations opens the door to an activity of further ponero-

genic factors; such reasoning should be thus regarded as not

only scientifically insufficient but immoral as well.

~~~

Drug-induced characteropathies: During the last few dec-

ades, medicine has begun using a series of drugs with serious

side effects: they attack the nervous system, leaving permanent

damage behind. These generally discreet handicaps sometimes

give rise to personality changes which are often very harmful

socially. Streptomycin41 proved a very dangerous drug; as a

result, some countries have limited its use, whereas others have

taken it off the list of drugs whose use is permitted.

40 Svetlana Alliluieva - Twenty Letters to a Friend.

41 Streptomycin acts by inhibiting protein synthesis and damaging cell mem-

branes in susceptible microorganisms. Possible side effects include injury to

the kidneys and nerve damage that can result in dizziness and deafness. [Edi-

tor’s note.]

118

PONEROLOGY

The cytostatic drugs42 used in treating neoplastic43 diseases

often attack the phylogenetically oldest brain tissue, the pri-

mary carrier of our instinctive substratum and basic feelings.44

Persons treated with such drugs progressively tend to lose their

emotional color and their ability to intuit a psychological situa-

tion. They retain their intellectual functions but become praise-

craving egocentrics, easily ruled by people who know how to

take advantage of this. They become indifferent to other peo-

ple’s feelings and the harm they are inflicting upon them; any

criticism of their own person or behavior is repaid with a

vengeance. Such a change of character in a person who until

recently enjoyed respect on the part of his environment or

community, which perseveres in human minds, becomes a

pathological phenomenon causing often tragic results.

Could this have been a factor in the case of the Shah of

Iran? Again, diagnosing dead people is problematic, and the

author lacks detailed data. However, this possibility should be

accepted as a probability. The genesis of that county’s present

42 Most drugs that are used to treat cancer kill the cancer cells. The word

cytotoxic means toxic to cells, or cell-killing. Chemotherapy is properly

called “cytotoxic therapy”. There are other treatments that do not kill cancer

cells. They work by stopping the cancer cells from multiplying. These treat-

ments are called “cytostatic”. The hormone therapies used to treat breast

cancer could be called cytostatic therapy. [Editor’s note.]

43 Neoplasia (literally: new growth) is abnormal, disorganized growth in a

tissue or organ, usually forming a distinct mass. Such a growth is called a

neoplasm, also known as a tumor. Neoplasia refers to both benign and malig-

nant growths, while “cancer” refers specifically to malignant neoplasia.

[Editor’s note.]

44 Chemo Head is the name given by cancer patients to one of the side-effects

of chemotherapy. It has been described as an inability to concentrate, reduced

memory, or finding it difficult to think clearly. This could be simply attrib-

uted to general fatigue, however it seems that there are some very specific

triggers and results. Some people get flustered by loud noises and activity

around them. Others find that they cannot find the right words to express

themselves. One patient described the feeling as “everything seems distant ...

it takes me a few seconds longer to think or answer questions. The mental

process slows down tremendously.” The symptoms are similar to those of

Attention Deficit Disorder. New research concludes “chemo head” continued

in up to 50% of survivors as long as 10 years following the end of systemic

chemotherapy treatment. [Editor’s note.]

POLITICAL PONEROLOGY

119

tragedy also doubtless contains pathological factors which play

ponerologically active roles.45

Results similar to the above in the psychological picture

may be caused by endogenous toxins46 or viruses. When, on

occasion, the mumps proceeds with a brain reaction, it leaves

in its wake a discrete pallor or dullness of feelings and a slight

decrease in mental efficiency. Similar phenomena are wit-

nessed after a difficult bout with diphtheria. Finally, polio at-

tacks the brain, more often the higher part of the anterior horns,

which was affected by the process. People with leg paresis

rarely manifest these effects, but those with paresis of the neck

and/or shoulders must count themselves lucky if they do not. In

addition to affective pallor, persons manifesting these effects

usually evidence naiveté and an inability to comprehend the

crux of a matter.

We rather doubt that President F.D. Roosevelt manifested