Your Dune Theories

[TMA_1]

I want to know what you guys have thought up concerning unlexplained phenomina, biology, machinery or other things in the dune universe. I want to hear about the theories you have made up to explain the various mysteries in Dune. A capital example is Nema's explanation of fold-space technology. The reason why I want to know is it would help me in my understanding of Dune and it's sequels. Also I thought it would be fun for people to express themselves with ideas that are fresh and totally their own.

[Scrinlord]

I am trying to remember some of my old theories, but its been awile since I read the original series, someone else post a theory that can be debated ;)

[Hawat]

I never found a fitting theory or explanation for the superhuman ability to control the bodily functions down to every little cell, that the Bene Gesserit are using in various situations.

I heard about autogen training that enables you to control muscles fibers you normally can't, but that doesn't even reach the capabilites of the BG.

[Scrinlord]

well, it is possible for certain people with lots of training to do a lot of that stuff even now(or they could in the past) I know that traditional Ninja(not the comic book kinds) underwent training for that kind of stuff. You can find people in Martial arts or Yoga type classes that can move the tiniest bit of their bodies at a time.

This does still not compare with the BG being able to do what they do, but maybe with their advanced knowladge, they know how to do that. If a Reverand mother has someone in Other Memory who could be like a ninja, than the RM would not have to study to do that, and she could study how to get it even more refined, and so on down the line, so that eventually, all BG could control any muscle in their bodies, and they would know how to teach it.

[Hawat]

After all, that are still muscles. That's very well possible. Stimulating the flow of your blood, manipulating the sperms that are fusing with the ovum etc. is much more complicated than that.

btw: At least the comic ninjas are nice honorful warriors. Not the sneaky vicious assassins from ancient Japan. :P

[Duncan_ghola]

what about evolution? could evolution have something to do with it? evolution doesnt mean growing wings on your back or fins

[Hawat]

Nah, i don't think that evolution caused it. That would mean that the BG must have been exposed to an environment that makes this abilities necessary. I can't remember that something like this is mentioned in Dune.

[Duncan_ghola]

but if the pre benegeserit trained constantly, trying to exceed their limits wouldnt that be somehow enhanced if it went on for generations which went on for milenia?

[NHJ BV]

but if the pre benegeserit trained constantly, trying to exceed their limits wouldnt that be somehow enhanced if it went on for generations which went on for milenia?

Not necessarily, because some/a lot/most? BG's were born from ordinary people, not BG themselves. Those who were born from a BG mother did ofcourse not have BG fathers which would also slow the process.

[Duncan_ghola]

yes you make a good point

[TMA_1]

any theories guys? lol

I have one for distrans. I see it like this, a chip is placed inside the skull of an animal (humans included). The chip is set to a certain part of the cerebrum where it then taps into the sub conscious and the conscious. Messages are played into his subconscious, as well as conscious memory, and when he reaches the prefered destination he, or it if it is for example a bat, will then extract the information via the computer chip.

Originally they would actually have to take the chip out of the creature or human in order to recieve data.

[nemafakei]

Bene Gesserits cannot control every singe cell, but they control their chemical balance. They can do this since most hormones are produced as a result of unconscious brain activity (though often, it is a little indirect). All the Bene Gesserit need to do is develop the relevant neural connections within their mind.

Ovulation can be controlled, as can the the chemical makeup of the ovum (and so its selectiveness), to a degree, by controlling things such as bloodflow (by muscular vaso-dilation or vaso-constriction to the ovaries at the right times of development and nutrition).

[Dominic Vernius]

I've always viewed the Bene Geserit as a hybrid between highly trained monks and incredibly talented diplomats. The control over one's body that could be achieved if we trained from a very young age would be incredible. I believe there's an appropriate quote that goes something like - knowing a thing can be done is half the effort of doing it. The perception and attention to nuance achieved from heightened states of mental alertness would allow for a level of prediction and anticipation in the observed that would probably frighten most people. What I think would be needed to achieve this are rules and training. If you could think of behaviour like a language with its rules, syntax and grammar you might be able to learn to understand more than the basics i.e., smile, frown, etc. We would need to understand what motivates people and how to utilize those desires to achieve our goals.

Dale Carnegie wrote a book called "How to win friends and influence people" the title is a bit quaint by today's standards but the information is still incredibly useful. People haven't changed that much in the 66 years since he wrote it. God only knows how many times its been reprinted.

In the Asimov universe a single human is unpredictable but the behaviour of a large population is. Psychohistory utilizes the theories of the behaviours of gas particles in much of its mathematics. But I digress