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Aldous Huxley's Brave New World paints a grim picture of what the future may hold. Through many scientific and technological advances, the lifestyle of the people in the novel has been changed dramatically from that of today. Although technological advances are currently seen in a positive light, Huxley warns us of the perils which can accompany these innovations if they are not controlled. This leads to the question of whether science and technology can improve our lives. In Brave New World, genetic engineering, the replacement of religion, the sanctioned use of drugs, and social conditioning have combined to lead to the metamorphosis in lifestyle.
In the novel, Huxley illustrates how these advances can have a detrimental effect to life; however, if used correctly they can have a tremendous improvement on peoples quality of life. Genetic engineering is one of the most evident technological impacts on this new society. All of the babies are born with no mother and father at a hatchery. At this hatchery their future was predetermined as their intelligence was programmed depending upon their future roles; those destined to the lower classes are given less oxygen circulation so that they are kept below par.
In many cases during the early periods of development the egg was divided and divided until there were up to ninety-six of the same person. This Bokanovskys process is the model for efficient production of humans: the principle of mass production at last applied to biology (5). Also, seventy percent of females are injected with male hormones to keep them infertile (free-martins). These applications of genetic engineering remove the individuality of people and make them more like commodities. They also remove the need for the family unit and any emotional closeness between people: if there is no need to get together to reproduce then any incentive for monogamy is removed. This is captured in the slogan everyone is everyone elses.
While the application of genetic engineering in Brave New World leads to disastrous results, it can be applied to benefit society. The removal of birth defects (such as Downs Syndrome, mental retardation, and physical abnormalities) and the aiding of sterile parents in conceiving are two ways where it can be used positively. However, in order to avoid the outcome achieved in the book, genetic engineering must not be used as a replacement for natural conception but only as a tool where it is required. Another area where science and technology has changed the world is religion. Science and technology is the new religion, with Henry Ford having replaced God. This is due to his introduction of the assembly line and how this has revolutionized society; its importance can be seen as they now keep track of years based on the time since Ford has died instead of Jesus Christ.
God isnt compatible with machinery and scientific medicine and universal happiness (192). The need for religion and for God has been removed; a person is in need of religion as they grow old and begin to fear isolation and death. In this world no-one is ever alone and no-one ages. The people are conditioned from childhood not to be frightened by death: they are taken to visit hospitals for the dying and given treats there so they learn to associate good things with death. Religion is a way to structure society; in the past, the supreme authority was the church. Before civil law there was Gods law and this was followed more closely than the civil laws of today.
As the concept of government has evolved, it has taken on the duties of religion, rendering the latter unnecessary. The role of religion is of ever decreasing importance as it becomes less and less binding; if it is not convenient to follow ones religion (ie: divorces) then one does not. Because of its lack of authority and replacement by government, religion is no longer a necessity in our society. It can even be said to be a hindrance, as many of the wars and conflicts in the world are centred around religious ideology.
Through this reasoning it can be seen that the replacement of religion by science and technology could be a very logical choice. The use and abuse of drugs in this new society is something else which was allowed through science. The drug soma is used by the masses to take them away from any problems or unhappiness in their life. While it makes them feel happy, it does not help fix their problems. However, this is alright because there are no major problems anyways in this ideal society.
This drug soma could be compared to alcohol or a government-regulated narcotic which has been made safe with no harmful side- or after-effects. It is also comparable due to the temporary relief from problems it provides but the lack of long-term solutions. This is why it is unacceptable as the quick fix for which it is used. Through the use of this drug, Huxley comments on our society and its fixation on using medicine and drugs to solve problems rather than actually dealing with them. Science has also allowed for the use of brain-washing, under the guise of social conditioning, to occur in Brave New World. When the children take their naps they are subjected to repeated whisperings of what they are wanted to believe; this is hypnopaedia.
They are also, at a very young age, subjected to shock therapy: they learn to associate books and flowers with electric shocks. This brain-washing serves to eliminate most forms of free thought; the hypnopaedia places ideas which are not theirs into their head and the shock therapy ensures they will never read books, which could encourage thinking. Responses are programmed into the people, like in Pavlov's experiments with dogs; this allows society to be controlled at a deep psychological level. Hypnosis is used in a similar, yet much more single-minded, way to cure smoking, help in dieting, or ease chronic pain. Hypnopaedia could be used as a learning tool for children, yet it would have to be very carefully controlled. In fact, this area is the one for which it is most important that strict regulations be placed on its use in order to prevent what has happened in the book.
This cannot be allowed to happen due to the loss of rights and liberty associated with programming the human mind, and the cruelty involved Pavlov's experiments were objected to due to the cruelty to the dogs; in this case it is much worse. Few would argue that Brave New World is a picture of a world gone awry with gross misuse of science and technology. However, it is possible to improve life through the correct application of these technologies; it is most important that controls and regulations along with careful monitoring be placed on these advances to ensure that they are not abuse and that we do not end up in a world paralleling Huxley's Brave New World.
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Research essay sample on Brave New World Science And Technology
