How Huxley's Brave New World Portrays Authority of Science and Technology on Society
Technology/science and its control over society
• Science has advanced to a point where genetics can be manipulated to manufacture humans.
• Manufacturing humans leads to be able to create the ‘perfect being’.
• The typical image of a perfect being would be intelligent, strong and attractive.
• Some people of the Brave New World are smart, strong and attractive, but the people who are in the lower classes (Deltas and Epsilons) do not have a high intelligence. – technology controlling and manipulative
• Even alphas and betas have suppressed intelligence. Their intelligence has been supressed to keep them from advancing science any further.
• Advancement of science has been stopped to keep the people from becoming too intelligent which will make them harder to control.
• Science has not just branched technologically, but also in a psychological way. Hypnopaedic teachings control the way people think and make them happy with their lives rather than question the status quo.
• Products of science that keep the people in check more directly are ‘soma’ and ‘the feelies’.
• Soma supresses society to keep them happy with what they have.
• The feelies could be seen just as entertainment but it can also be seen as a sort of propaganda to mould the thinking of the people.
• The synthetic music machine is another piece of technology that works to create artificial happiness.
• All the technological products are there to keep the stability of society by dumbing them down and supressing their feelings.
• Science is normally linked with advancement, making life easier, providing ways to eliminate problems and more discoveries, possibilities of science are neverending
• BUT science in the BNW has been put on hold indefinitely as any more discovery could be a threat to their order and society.
• Advantages: eliminates weak links unless there is a mistake (ie when Lenina forgets the injection…) eliminates obstacles such as disease, fewer challenges, eliminates
• Science has advanced to a point where genetics can be manipulated to manufacture humans.
• Manufacturing humans leads to be able to create the ‘perfect being’.
• The typical image of a perfect being would be intelligent, strong and attractive.
• Some people of the Brave New World are smart, strong and attractive, but the people who are in the lower classes (Deltas and Epsilons) do not have a high intelligence. – technology controlling and manipulative
• Even alphas and betas have suppressed intelligence. Their intelligence has been supressed to keep them from advancing science any further.
• Advancement of science has been stopped to keep the people from becoming too intelligent which will make them harder to control.
• Science has not just branched technologically, but also in a psychological way. Hypnopaedic teachings control the way people think and make them happy with their lives rather than question the status quo.
• Products of science that keep the people in check more directly are ‘soma’ and ‘the feelies’.
• Soma supresses society to keep them happy with what they have.
• The feelies could be seen just as entertainment but it can also be seen as a sort of propaganda to mould the thinking of the people.
• The synthetic music machine is another piece of technology that works to create artificial happiness.
• All the technological products are there to keep the stability of society by dumbing them down and supressing their feelings.
• Science is normally linked with advancement, making life easier, providing ways to eliminate problems and more discoveries, possibilities of science are neverending
• BUT science in the BNW has been put on hold indefinitely as any more discovery could be a threat to their order and society.
• Advantages: eliminates weak links unless there is a mistake (ie when Lenina forgets the injection…) eliminates obstacles such as disease, fewer challenges, eliminates