Huxley's "A Brave New World"
I had the time and chance to catch up on a bit of reading over the the last few days. Judging by my need to play the Devil's Advocate in most social discussions, I had a feeling that I would enjoy Huxley's "A Brave New World" based on extracts from the book that I had the privilege of analysing during my days in IGCSE. Sure enough, I was right, and there are many things that I agree with the book. Whether or not I am stating this only to play the Devil's Advocate or if this is really my opinion is based on your discretion as a reader, for I myself do not know. In a maniacal interpretation, perhaps my opinion is always akin to that of the Devil's Advocate, of which then our world is truly doomed.
Auxley describes a post-war world which now enjoys peace based on the ideals of the World Controller, of which there are only seven in the world, supposedly one for each continent. Each country is now in competition with each other in terms of production and economic output, as it is now. However in his world humans lives are also considered a commodity and thus the ability to mass produce babies in test-tubes in a cheap, efficient and elegant method is viewed as a leap in science and exemplifies the level of sophistication within that certain economy. Socially, having children is considered immoral, as it leaves space for imperfection due to the random mixing of genes. As such there is no such thing as a father or mother, or a biological family for that matter. Each baby is engineered for a certain job. Alpha pluses are made to work in high end tertiary jobs by nourishing the brain exceedingly during their development period as a foetus while Delta's are made to work in mines, nourishing little to the brain to give little idea for revolts but nourishing the body such that it matures strong enough to work the hard life that they are given. The whole idea of this is to ensure that each member feels important enough to work in their job scope while making it such that they feel the need to maintain the social structure, less society fails.
Within this world, everyone belongs to everyone else and no one is to be alone, for it is through solitude that one finds God which provides a means for separation through religion. There is thus no such need for marriage and love, for the book argues that for as long as sex and erotic play is common, there is no need for one to be selfish or "for one to have another all to himself". As such people schedule sex and date sessions for a certain period of time, only to be with another man/woman the next week.
Within this world, the use of drugs is recommended, for it is through the use of drugs that we are able to dull the negatives and stresses of this world and in turn do not take it out on someone else. Of course, in this world of sophistication, the effect of drugs is minimal if used in moderation. It also allows people to better accept the status that they are put in, for they are able to indulge in the same substances as those in the higher class, making them feel as if equal.
I think this world, although strange, is a world of maximal economic efficiency. Of course, considering my need to be spiritual many a time, I may feel that there would be an emptiness within. Alternatively one could argue that the emptiness would only form in solitude, something that I am so used to in this society. However this book regards economic efficiency as the ultimate goal, and rids people of a higher calling for a purpose in life outside of materialistic goods. I do support that this social structure is what we need for society to work with optimum efficiency and for the world to work in peace, but is unnatural to the way humans are to live; it is by ridding our desire to achieve a fulfilling life outside of materialism that we can live this way. I suppose thus, in essence, humans are never meant to live peacefully after all.
Cheers,
Matthew Tan
Auxley describes a post-war world which now enjoys peace based on the ideals of the World Controller, of which there are only seven in the world, supposedly one for each continent. Each country is now in competition with each other in terms of production and economic output, as it is now. However in his world humans lives are also considered a commodity and thus the ability to mass produce babies in test-tubes in a cheap, efficient and elegant method is viewed as a leap in science and exemplifies the level of sophistication within that certain economy. Socially, having children is considered immoral, as it leaves space for imperfection due to the random mixing of genes. As such there is no such thing as a father or mother, or a biological family for that matter. Each baby is engineered for a certain job. Alpha pluses are made to work in high end tertiary jobs by nourishing the brain exceedingly during their development period as a foetus while Delta's are made to work in mines, nourishing little to the brain to give little idea for revolts but nourishing the body such that it matures strong enough to work the hard life that they are given. The whole idea of this is to ensure that each member feels important enough to work in their job scope while making it such that they feel the need to maintain the social structure, less society fails.
Within this world, everyone belongs to everyone else and no one is to be alone, for it is through solitude that one finds God which provides a means for separation through religion. There is thus no such need for marriage and love, for the book argues that for as long as sex and erotic play is common, there is no need for one to be selfish or "for one to have another all to himself". As such people schedule sex and date sessions for a certain period of time, only to be with another man/woman the next week.
Within this world, the use of drugs is recommended, for it is through the use of drugs that we are able to dull the negatives and stresses of this world and in turn do not take it out on someone else. Of course, in this world of sophistication, the effect of drugs is minimal if used in moderation. It also allows people to better accept the status that they are put in, for they are able to indulge in the same substances as those in the higher class, making them feel as if equal.
I think this world, although strange, is a world of maximal economic efficiency. Of course, considering my need to be spiritual many a time, I may feel that there would be an emptiness within. Alternatively one could argue that the emptiness would only form in solitude, something that I am so used to in this society. However this book regards economic efficiency as the ultimate goal, and rids people of a higher calling for a purpose in life outside of materialistic goods. I do support that this social structure is what we need for society to work with optimum efficiency and for the world to work in peace, but is unnatural to the way humans are to live; it is by ridding our desire to achieve a fulfilling life outside of materialism that we can live this way. I suppose thus, in essence, humans are never meant to live peacefully after all.
Cheers,
Matthew Tan
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