Happiness. How we rave about the things that make us happy and the things that don't. How we insist happiness is the only emotion we desire and need. How we firmly believe that if everyone was happy the world would be a better, brighter place. How we fail to see that we couldn't function in a "nothing but happiness" society like the one in Brave New World therefore our society would never drastically change into the BNW society as so many believe.
However I can see why people would be concerned that our world just might shape into BNW in the future. Yes it's well aware to everyone that technology and manufacturing has consumed modern society and that in some ways it runs us instead of the other way around. Will we ever say enough is enough though? Honestly maybe not, which could very well evolve into the artificial epidemic we witness occur in BNW.
Emotional connections. Something that doesn't exist in the World State. Also something that is diminishing in current society. In BNW there is no dating or marriage they only "lay" with one another; as of 2019 there are hundreds of apps where you can find someone to enjoy your night with and then never see them again. Now as liberal or conservative you are when it comes to the subject of sexual relationships we can all recognize that this new era of "relationships" is causing a wave of temporary happiness instead of emotional stability. Just like in BNW they take soma whenever they need to feel that fulfilling moment of happiness again.
History always repeats itself, no matter how hard we try to prevent it. Therefore could world domination where everyone is forced to conform to a completely new way of life possible? If you say no then you never studied the Axis Power's ability to conquer and force their unorthodox regime onto millions of people. Never underestimate men's desire for power, control, and society structured in the way they believe is right.
With all these reasons for how and why we could turn into the society of BNW what is the reason that we couldn't last in that society? Boredom. If we really could configure the brain to never be bored and always be satisfied then that would be a different story. So for now we still retain everything that makes us human, including the need to be interested, free, and unique. Therefore people simply wouldn't have it if we were forced to conform to a way of life that is so simplistic and organized, we wouldn't actually be happy because we need excitement to thrive. We would go mad and rebel until we became our own defeat if we had no books, no history, no culture, no family, no emotions. The bottom line is that as long as we are have the emotions, logic, and desires that makes us human we would never turn into something as atrocious as the World State.
- Gia Torres
I like how you mentioned boredom in your argument. From my personal experience I feel like the feeling of boredom is a crucial feeling for all human beings. Although you mentioned that hypothetically speaking what if we humans came up with an algorithm that somehow prevented us from feeling bored, I feel contrary to that statement. Boredom is a state of mind, a person may experience when they have absolutely nothing to do.
ReplyDeleteSome people may look down upon boredom, but when you really get down to it, boredom allows us to reminisce and think about some crucial life decisions. Various thoughts may just be small, insignificant ones, while others may be extremely important. Point being our society would not be the same if the feeling of boredom was completely eliminated. Nonetheless, I enjoyed reading your blog, as it was quite engaging.
You two are the best.
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