The society depicted in Brave New World uses extraordinarily advanced technology to essentially farm humans, to produce identical beings and infuse them with their base desires and beliefs through technological process. While this undoubtedly raises moral and ethical concerns among individuals living in our present society, isn't this but a more advanced form of what humanity has been doing thus far? Perhaps not the farming and producing of thousands of children via technological process, but already we are using technology to assist us in child bearing, either in the form of preventative measures or assistance. While it is still a far cry away from the devices of Brave New World, it is a start.
Concerning the implantation of beliefs and desires among individuals through technological means, is this not but a more advanced version of what parents have been doing for centuries? Your parents, or other guardians or role model figures, have instilled in you base desires and beliefs since you were a child. Look closely for similarities between you and these figures. Children often grow up and turn out like their parents for this very reason. While there is nothing wrong with this process, Brave New World takes it to a new level, where technology implants radical beliefs and desires among children. Instances of this could be seen starting to take root in our society, with the prevalence of electronics as entertainment devices. Already it is starting to change our mindsets.
How likely are we to turn out as society does in Brave New World? The ideas are already present, and are being used to some extent. We simply lack the technological prowess necessary. Will we turn out like Brave New World? Will we begin to manufacture our children?
-Tyler Bartschi
What you are discussing definitely does raise an eyebrow, specifically mine, about the likeness of Brave New World’s and our society’s take on childhood. I have written on my post similar to this topic about modified children as well, and I acknowledge your statement. Already do parents instill the ethics and morals they hand pick onto us because they think it right to do so: our parents have done this since the time our legs could barely hold us. Thus on a far more simpler scale, brainwashing is also an integrated part of society.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, I HIGHLY doubt something along the lines of manufacturing children will ever reach out to the US considering the amount of protestors this could attract. However, the idea of “never” was extended when the America’s were founded and when the first astronauts landed on the moon. It may not be evident now, but this slim possibility of growing children artificially may grow and start action, who knows.
Is it possible? No, Well at least not now. It can certainly become a possibility shall we change the current process of parents simply influencing their children. If we decide to turn it into a more radical process, like changing mass amounts of children and making them believe a certain way with technology, it is possible. With more and more mobile devices getting into the hands of small, influenceable children, just now I feel like these young people start to be influenced more and more by these phones and less and less from their parents> Maybe I am imagining it but i cannot deny feeling like this is happening.
ReplyDeleteI also found it very interesting that you chose to focus on the way the people in BNW decided to breed children, for it's not a subject I have encountered in responding to these blogs. Though it may seem a ridiculous subject at first, the more and more you look into, the more it starts to sway from ridiculous into realistic fiction, and maybe close to the truth.