So... is this portrayal of Caprica as a pleasure-permissive society an indication that the writers and producers believe these are features of an advanced human civilization? Or, do they indicate that Caprica is a decadent society ready to fall due to its own hubris?
I think the series, and the post series movie "The Plan" have already answered this question.
It was not the inclusive, or what certain segments insist on calling "decadent," aspects of the culture that brought about destruction. It was the intolerance - both societal and personal. For example, it wasn't the fact that Baltar liked sex that allowed Six to play him in the pilot - it was his sexism and sense of self superiority, his attempt to use her for his own gain that backfired on him.
It was a pretty common theme that self-righteous closed mindedness led to problems and seeing the "other" as non-other and worthy of equal love and respect that led to moments of salvation in BSG.
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I think the series, and the post series movie "The Plan" have already answered this question.
It was not the inclusive, or what certain segments insist on calling "decadent," aspects of the culture that brought about destruction. It was the intolerance - both societal and personal. For example, it wasn't the fact that Baltar liked sex that allowed Six to play him in the pilot - it was his sexism and sense of self superiority, his attempt to use her for his own gain that backfired on him.
It was a pretty common theme that self-righteous closed mindedness led to problems and seeing the "other" as non-other and worthy of equal love and respect that led to moments of salvation in BSG.