Just a quick take from something I was reading and thought it was really powerful to share....
If you have read or listened to Aldous Huxley's works then you know he can certainly stretch your mind. I was quite surprised to examine the contrast between a theory proffered by Huxley in his novel "Brave New World" from 1931 as contrasted to George Orwell's social science novel "Nineteen Eighty Four" or "1984" which was written in 1949. Orwell's novel was written to bring awareness to what he thought society might face as future challenges based upon his perspective of nationalism and growing big brother.
Alduos Huxley expressed an alternative concern that the societal issues we might face which could capture and remove our ability for free thought might not be, forced upon us, as much as they may be desired by us. Read the following contrast proffered by Neil Postman in his novel "Amusing ourselves to Death" written in 1982 ..... regarding our Dystopian future and please consider social media/ technology at the close. All of these individuals were such incredible fore thinkers and prognosticators of our modern day issues.
Neil Postman on Orwell and Huxley
Contrary to popular belief. . . Huxley [Brave New World] and Orwell [1984] did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley’s vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacity to think.
What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley fears was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.
Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much those that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.
Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centripetal bumblepuppy . . . . As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists, who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny, “failed to take into account man’s almost infinite appetite for distractions.”
In 1984, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we fear will ruin us. Huxley feared that our desire will ruin us.”
In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain.
In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we desire will ruin us. This book is about the possibility that Huxley, not Orwell, was right.
—Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death
Facebook, Email, TikTok, Instagram, You Tube....
How do we choose to use technology with thought as opposed to being a part of a culture that surrenders its Intelligence Quotient to mind numbing activity?
The question is always the same in life and in health, Do you find your best life by examining solutions form "Inside Out" or "Outside in"?
Our answer starts with discourse and continues with planning. Whats your plan?
No comments:
Post a Comment