Aldous Huxley's View On Government Essay

702 Words2 Pages

Examining Aldous Huxley’s View on Government Control “Science and technology provide the means for controlling the lives of citizens” (Brave). This quote describes a major and ever-growing problem in the basic, daily lives of society now, and has been since the mid-twentieth century. With technology, medicine, and general knowledge evolving so rapidly it is hard to find a constant code by which governments can carry out their purpose of regulating societies. In some cases, organization is taken to an extreme level that chokes out creativity and individuality while replacing it with codes and stern punishments(Huxley). On the other end of the spectrum, liberalism can flourish in an atmosphere of prosperity and freedom, but not for very long(Huxley). The debate on which type of governing serves everyone best has been raging since mankind first walked the Earth. Aldous Huxley examines the concept of an over-controlling government and the limitations on freedom that are necessary to a working society by creating and then elaborating on a fictional society controlled by ten rulers. The subject of freedom often is the forefront of discussion when examining any sort of politics or government. The two basic sides include those for more freedom, and those
He states that the possibility of a utopia is enough by itself in order to strive for a perfect society and a perfect world. Huxley shows that with the right amount of control and power in the government’s hands, a society that has reached complete perfection is possible and could actually occur. Aldous Huxley analyzes the amount of freedom a society should have in relation to the power given to its government and the limitations that arise due to this ratio by creating and then elaborating on a fictional society controlled by ten

Show More
Related

  • Defining Freedom in Eric Foner's The Story of American Freedom

    1177 Words  | 3 Pages

    Foner focuses, specifically, on how the definition of liberty has been molded over time. He describes how other factors played a role in the change of liberty using three interrelated themes. The first theme, as he describes it, covers the dimensions or meanings of freedom. The dimensions include “political freedom, or the right to participate in public affairs… civil liberties, or rights that individuals can assert against authority…[and] moral or ‘Christian’ ideal of freedom,” the freedom to act morally or ethically good (Foner xvii). It also includes personal freedom or being able to make individual choices free from coercion, and “economic freedom…[which covers how] the kinds of economic relations constitute freedom for… [individual’s working lives]” (Foner xviii). All these dimensions are looked at individually as they play a role in reshaping the definition of freedom or liberty.

    Read More

  • Postman's Analysis of Brave New World

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    To conclude, Postman's analysis that Huxley's vision of the future has become more of a reality than that of Orwell's.  Although the present day is not exactly how Huxley had envisioned it, our society will soon reflect the one created in Brave New World if it continues to progress as it had in the past few decades.  Orwell's prediction does not hold much relevance in today's society. Our government is not constantly watching over us, they have more important difficulties to overcome.  Government is not concerned with the actions of individuals; they base their decisions on the opinions of the masses.  Huxley's travesty holds far more relevance than the prestigious social theory of Orwell.

    Read More

  • Fahrenheit 451 And 1984 - The Fear Of Utopia

    1240 Words  | 3 Pages

    Several conflicting frames of mind have played defining roles in shaping humanity throughout the twentieth century. Philosophical optimism of a bright future held by humanity in general was taken advantage of by the promise of a better life through sacrifice of individuality to the state. In the books Brave New World, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451 clear opposition to these subtle entrapments was voiced in similarly convincing ways. They first all established, to varying degrees of balance, the atmosphere and seductiveness of the “utopia” and the fear of the consequences of acting in the non-prescribed way through character development. A single character is alienated because of their inability to conform – often in protest to the forced conditions of happiness and well being. Their struggle is to hide this fact from the state’s relentless supervision of (supposedly) everything. This leads them to eventually come into conflict with some hand of the state which serves as the authors voice presenting the reader with the ‘absurdity’ of the principles on which the society is based. The similar fear of the state’s abuse of power and technology at the expense of human individuality present within these novels speaks to the relevance of these novels within their historical context and their usefulness for awakening people to the horrendous consequences of their ignorance.

    Read More

  • 1984 Vs Brave New World

    693 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death, Orwell’s 1984 and Huxley’s Brave New World both predicted that society would eventually be governed by a global totalitarian system; however, the key difference between both their predictions is the method by which society’s cognizance would be undermined. Orwell claimed that contemporary society would be controlled by overt modes of policing and supervising the social hierarchy, whereas Huxley stated that society’s infatuation with entertainment and superficial pleasure alone would be enough for the government to have absolute control over the public. Unfortunately, today’s society is not an Animal Farm. All jokes aside, Postman’s assertion of Huxley’s theory, “what

    Read More

  • control in brave new world

    736 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his novel Brave New World, Aldous Huxley illustrates ways in which government and advanced science control society. Through actual visualization of this Utopian society, the reader is able to see how this state affects Huxley’s characters. Throughout the book, the author deals with many different aspects of control. Whether it is of his subjects’ feelings and emotions or of the society’s restraint of population growth, Huxley depicts government’s and science’s role in the brave new world of tomorrow.

    Read More

  • Government Censorship and Control in Brave New World

    1738 Words  | 4 Pages

    Imagine a society in which its citizens have forfeited all personal liberties for government protection and stability; Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, explores a civilization in which this hypothetical has become reality. The inevitable trade-off of citizens’ freedoms for government protection traditionally follows periods of war and terror. The voluntary degradation of the citizens’ rights begins with small, benign steps to full, totalitarian control. Major methods for government control and censorship are political, religious, economic, and moral avenues. Huxley’s Brave New World provides a prophetic glimpse of government censorship and control through technology; the citizens of the World State mimic those of the real world by trading their personal liberties for safety and stability, suggesting that a society similar to Huxley’s could exist outside the realm of dystopian science fiction.

    Read More

  • Should we value Positive Freedom over Negative Freedom?

    1409 Words  | 3 Pages

    This essay will focus on establishing an accurate definition of Negative Freedom and Positive Freedom and will also focus on establishing an accurate differentiation between Positive and Negative Freedom, only once a clear cut differentiation and definition between Positive and Negative Freedoms. The latter part of the essay will focus on establishing which type of freedom, Negative or Positive Freedoms, should be valued over the other type of freedom and will then extrapolate a deductively sound reason as to why one freedom should be valued over the other freedom.

    Read More

  • 1984 and Brave New World

    1312 Words  | 3 Pages

    This dream of forming and maintaining a utopian society was immortalized in two novels dealing with the same basic ideas, 1984 by George Orwell and Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Both of these novels deal with the lives of main characters that inadvertently become subversives in a totalitarian government. These two books differ greatly however with the manner in which the government controls the population and the strictness of the measures taken to maintain this stability. This essay with compare and contrast the message and tone of each novel as well as consider whether the utopia is a positive or negative one.

    Read More

  • Individuality Vs. Social Stability

    1330 Words  | 3 Pages

    Imagine living in a society where there is no sense of independence, individual thought or freedom. A society where the government uses disturbing methods that dehumanize people in order to force conformity upon them. Taking away any sense of emotion, It would be very undesirable to live in a society with such oppression. Such society is portrayed in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World. The World State uses social restrictions to create permanent artificial personalities for people within the society. The World State also uses controlled groupings of people to brainwash them further to be thoughtless people with no sense of individualism. Lastly, the World State uses drugs to create artificial happiness for people, leaving no room for intense emotion which causes people to revolt against the World State. Within the novel Brave New World, it is seen that the World State eliminates individuality through social restrictions, government controlled groupings and the abuse of drugs to maintain control of the population.

    Read More

  • The Role of Government and Technology in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World

    648 Words  | 2 Pages

    Merriam Webster’s definition of satire is a type of literary work used to ridicule human vices and follies. This type of work is presented in Aldous Huxley’s, Brave New World, when criticizing the power and control of the World State through the use of advanced technology towards the members of the World State. Throughout the novel the World State is portrayed as a totalitarian government controlling every aspect of its citizens lives. This controlling is made possible through all the advanced technology available within the World State. Set hundreds of years after Henry Ford, the renowned auto maker, the government’s technology is highly advanced, a folly Huxley is trying to expose in order to prevent a technological takeover in the life of people in the real world. Conditioning is one technological method used by the government in order to establish individuals to participate in a variety of tasks. Also entertainment is another factor used by theWorld State to keep power. Censorship is also illustrated in the novel presenting the governments ability to control, what is released in the World State.

    Read More

  • Absolute Power In Brave New World

    747 Words  | 2 Pages

    Totalitarian states attempt achieve power over the people. However, human nature strives for relationships with other people as a source of comfort, happiness, and strength. Therefore, it is quite difficult to insinuate everlasting power while maintaining these human institutions. Both Huxley and Orwell warn of the potential atrocities totalitarian states will use to achieve this absolute power. Two characters in these two respective novels show the power of human relationships and why it is necessary to abolish them to create a unified populace.

    Read More

  • The History of American Freedom

    1321 Words  | 3 Pages

    American freedom has faced many tribulations, especially throughout the slavery, segregation, and women’s suffrage eras. However, the ideological belief of individual freedom has always triumphed. From when the first Pilgrim stepped onto American soil to the present day America has been run by a democracy and the freedom that system of government allows its peoples to have. “Americans share a common identity grounded in the freedom — consistent always with respecting the freedom of others — to live as they choose” (Friedman).

    Read More

  • The Pursuit of Happyness in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451

    1583 Words  | 4 Pages

    These futuristic societies show what can happen if we follow governmental rule without questions. Huxley shows us that this can be a “possible shape for things to come” in America’s society if we keep doing what we are doing (Schmerl 38). This can even occur if people stop thinking critically and just follow along. Instead of people choosing their own pursuit of happiness and freedoms, they have the governments choose it for them.

    Read More

  • Individuality In Lord Of The Flies And Brave New World

    779 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today people value individuality over all else. Individuality and a combination and variations of numerous beliefs and traditions create a unique culture. Culture can only sustain itself if the governmental authority allows freedom otherwise people become clones or unless the governmental authority restrains people from discriminating against others. A balance of freedom and rules allows for the continued humanization of the individual. William Golding and Aldous Huxley’s contemporary dystopian novels reflect a similar theme. For instance, both Lord of the Flies and Brave New World show how the dehumanization of the individual leads to the destruction of culture. However, the authors’ messages collaborate that both a totalitarian rule and the

    Read More

  • The Use of Technology to Control Society in Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

    1235 Words  | 3 Pages

    Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, portrays a future society where people are no longer individuals but are controlled by the World State. The World State dominates the people by creating citizens that are content with who they are. Brave New World describes how the science of biology and psychology are manipulated so that the government can develop technologies to change the way humans think and act. The World State designs humans from conception for this society. Once the humans are within the society the state ensures all people remain happy. They program these humans to have needs and desires that will sustain a lucrative economy while not thinking of themselves as an individual. Huxley describes the Worlds State’s intent to control their society through medical intervention, happiness, and consumerism which has similarities to modern society.

    Read More

More about Aldous Huxley's View On Government Essay

Open Document