Seldon Plan

Lore & Background

Hari Seldon developed psychohistory during his tenure as a mathematics professor at Streeling University on Trantor. He demonstrated that Galactic society could be represented in a simulation simpler than itself, predicting the Empire's inevitable fall and the subsequent dark age. To execute his plan, he was exiled to Terminus under the pretense of creating a vast compilation of knowledge known as the Encyclopedia Galactica. In reality, Terminus held a much larger role that Seldon had to conceal from its inhabitants initially. The Foundation was populated entirely by scientists and their families, positioned on a resource-poor planet to force rapid development through social pressure. This setup was designed to ensure that when the Empire fell, the Foundation would rise as its successor within one thousand years instead of the thirty thousand years predicted by standard historical trajectory.

In Their Own Story

In the first part of the book 'Foundation', Hari Seldon appears only as a prerecorded hologram near the end of the narrative. He reveals the existence of the 'Seldon Crisis' to the inhabitants of Terminus, explaining that his predictions have come true and that their survival depends on following his plan. The story depicts him put on trial by the Commission of Public Safety for his dire predictions about the eventual fall of the Galactic Empire. Following this trial, he is exiled to the distant planet Terminus. His prerecorded messages continue to appear in 'Foundation and Empire' and 'Second Foundation', revealing that the Plan operates through specific moments where society faces critical turning points. These messages serve as a guide, ensuring that the Foundation navigates the chaotic transitions correctly to maintain the timeline for the creation of the Second Galactic Empire.

Reader's Guide

Psychohistory functions on the principle that while individual actions are unpredictable, the behavior of large populations can be forecast with high accuracy using algorithmic science. The Seldon Plan relies on 'Seldon Crises,' predetermined moments where the Foundation must make specific choices to stay on track. The plan aims to reduce the interregnum from a normal ten-to-thirty thousand years down to just one thousand years. However, it has limitations; it cannot account for random events like the assassination of Emperor Cleon I by his gardener or individuals with unique abilities that disrupt statistical norms. The Foundation on Terminus handles physical reconstruction and social pressure, while a hidden group works to manage psychological stability, though Seldon's original plan focused primarily on the establishment of the new society on the resource-poor planet.

Did You Know?

• Hari Seldon made only one in-the-flesh appearance in the first five books of the series, which occurred in the first part of the first book.
• Seldon was awarded a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Helicon for his work on turbulence before becoming an assistant professor specializing in social structures.
• The planet Terminus was originally claimed to be occupied solely to create the Encyclopedia Galactica, but Seldon concealed its much larger role in his Plan from its inhabitants.
• Seldon's prerecorded messages reveal a 'Seldon Crisis' at critical moments to guide the Foundation through unpredictable social shifts.