Sociologyindex |
BRAVE NEW WORLD |
Sociology Books 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
‘Brave new world’ is the the title of a 1932 book by
futurist and social critic, Aldous L Huxley (1894-1963).
In the ‘brave new world’ Huxley imagines the
authorities of society use new technologies, drugs and instruments of propaganda like
subliminal advertising to keep people happy and unaware or unconcerned about what is
actually happening to them and their communities.
In 'Brave New World' non-stop distractions of the most
fascinating nature (the feelies, orgy-porgy, centrifugal bumblepuppy) are deliberately
used as instruments of policy, for the purpose of preventing people from paying too much
attention to the realities of the social and political situation. The other world of
religion is different from the other world of entertainment; but they resemble one another
in being most decidedly "not of this world." Both are distractions and, if lived
in too continuously, both can become, in Marx's phrase, "the opium of the
people" and so a threat to freedom. - deoxy.org/huxley1.htm
Reinterpretations of Orwell's 1984, Huxley's Brave New World and Zamyatin's We. Based
on the Conflict Between Liberty and Domination.
We, 1984 and Brave New World are three of the most widely interpreted science fiction
novels of the twentieth century. They all deal with anti-Utopian futures, each horrible in
a completely different way. By examining various critical interpretations of We, 1984 and
Brave New World, and by examining the use of certain symbolic imagery in the three texts,
we can draw new connections between these formerly unconnected sets of imagery. Wind
imagery in We, for example, was previously interpreted to reflect only the inner struggles
of the protagonist, D-503. However, if wind is looked upon as a symbol of liberty, instead
of as a representation of the struggle within, then it takes on new meaning in terms of
the interplay between liberty and domination, a major aspect of these novels. Brave New
World takes place in the World State, though the name is seldom used since it is the whole
world and has been the whole world for many generations. It is generally called "the
world". - geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/1634/Ant.html |
|
|
|
|
RELATIVE THEORY OF GOOD IN "BRAVE NEW WORLD" AND "1984."
PARTRIDGE, ALICE
ONE METHOD OF INTERESTING THE AVERAGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN QUESTIONING INTELLIGENTLY THE
NATURE OF GOOD IS THROUGH THE STUDY OF HUXLEY'S "BRAVE NEW WORLD" AND ORWELL'S
"1984." IN BOTH OF THESE NEGATIVE UTOPIAS THE LOSS OF MAN'S HUMANITY,
INDIVIDUALITY, AND RIGHT TO REASON THE NATURE OF GOOD ARE THE VERY QUALITIES WHICH MAKE
HIM "EXCELLENT," AND WHICH ARE NECESSARY FOR A "GOOD" SOCIETY WHERE
STABILITY IS THE PARAMOUNT VIRTURE, DISEASE AND POVERTY ARE ERADICATED THROUGH THE
APPLICATION OF SCIENCE, AND MAN IS NEVER FACED WITH MAKING THOSE AGONIZING CHOICES WHICH
WRENCH HIS PSYCHE. THE YOUNG READER, AFTER STUDYING THE TWO NOVELS AND BEING FRIGHTENED BY
WHAT HE RECOGNIZES AS A POSSIBLE FUTURE REALITY--GIVEN THE COURSE OF HUMAN HISTORY, MAN'S
NATURE, AND THE RISE OF SCIENCE--COMES TO STAND WITH THE SAVAGE OF "BRAVE NEW
WORLD." HE REALIZES THAT IT IS THE RIGHT TO QUESTION THE NATURE OF GOOD AND EVIL IN A
FREE SOCIETY WHICH PRESERVES MAN'S HUMANITY AND INDIVIDUALITY--WHICH MAKES HIM HUMAN
INSTEAD OF A ROBOT. EVEN THOUGH HE MAY NEVER REALLY KNOW THE TRUE NATURE OF GOOD, THE
STUDENT SEES THE IMPORTANCE OF QUESTIONING ITS NATURE. - eric.ed.gov
Huxley: BRAVE NEW WORLD
research-assistance.com
Comparison of ideas found in Aldous Huxley's BRAVE NEW WORLD to tenets of
Buddhism
Paper Abstract: Comparison of ideas found in Aldous Huxley's BRAVE NEW WORLD to tenets of
Buddhism.
Paper Introduction: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley has its spiritual side, which for the
society envisioned by Huxley may be various means undertaken to thwart spirituality or at
least to rechannel it. The attempt is to move from what might be called
"natural" spirituality into a different avenue more acceptable to this
particular society. The writings of the Buddha represent a method of giving direction to
spirituality as well. However, the difference is that the Buddha seeks to evoke a
spiritual response from others so that they seek a truth within themselves, while the
society in Brave New World wants to shape the response and create a truth in keeping with
some idea of social harmony. Buddhism takes on a slightly different patina in different
countries of the world where it is practiced, meshing its religious culture with the
social culture of the given region. Buddh
Inheritable genetic modification and a brave new world. Did Huxley have it wrong?
by Frankel MS. - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
|