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1984 is so often cited in reference to modern dystopian happenings but Brave New World got it right in so many more ways! The Audible version is great, I highly

1984 is so often cited in reference to modern dystopian happenings but Brave New World got it right in so many more ways! The Audible version is great, I highly recommend everyone reading or listening to this sometime in 2021.

ahepp 6y ago
A book with a similar thesis, that may be of interest to you: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amusing_Ourselves_to_Death https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amusing_Ourselves_to_Death
- luxuryballs 6y ago
  Oh yes! Read this one in college :)
082349872349872 6y ago
See also Huxley's _Island_ for his attempt at a utopia. (although strictly speaking, a Utilitarian would claim Brave New World is already a utopia, because the Savage was the only discontent.)
- antisthenes 6y ago
  Why would I have to be a utilitarian to make that claim? > because the Savage was the only discontent. That's not accurate. Bernard was discontent as well. In fact a good chunk of the book is describing his discontent and inability to fit in, despite his status. On top of that, he eventually goes to an island full of such discontent and intellectually curious spersons. However, limited discontent does not equal dystopia, or a lack of utopia. People can be discontent in a utopia as long as it is stable (which it seems to be in BNW).
  - 082349872349872 6y ago
    Because utilitarians believe that topia-ness is proportional to some measure of average (whether mean, median, or modal, BNW is a happy society) contentment. You can make that claim without being a utilitarian, but I don't think one can be a utilitarian without making that claim. (unless one gets into "no true utility" :-) Bernard was discontent, but he was content when he could exploit the Savage, and he'll be very content on the island (and his discontentment was merely that, he was never suicidal). Mond would also rather be on an island (a place that sounds reminiscent of Dante's first circle) with all the cool people, if it weren't for his (programmed?) sense of duty. I don't get the sense that discontent too-individualistic people remain discontent once they are allowed to go to the islands. (In Huxley's england, I believe people who either wished or were forced to avoid the bottles of their copy-book upbringing became "remittance men" and women, some of whom wound up on literal islands.)
me_me_me 6y ago
Brave New World has a amazing ending that really pushed me on the fence whether the world of BNW is good or bad. I had few discussions of it and I still to this day, can't decide. It is definitely must read book, and its a good read too. Not a borish slog that puts you to sleep.

ahepp 6y ago

A book with a similar thesis, that may be of interest to you: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amusing_Ourselves_to_Death https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amusing_Ourselves_to_Death

luxuryballs 6y ago
Oh yes! Read this one in college :)

082349872349872 6y ago

See also Huxley's _Island_ for his attempt at a utopia. (although strictly speaking, a Utilitarian would claim Brave New World is already a utopia, because the Savage was the only discontent.)

antisthenes 6y ago
Why would I have to be a utilitarian to make that claim? > because the Savage was the only discontent. That's not accurate. Bernard was discontent as well. In fact a good chunk of the book is describing his discontent and inability to fit in, despite his status. On top of that, he eventually goes to an island full of such discontent and intellectually curious spersons. However, limited discontent does not equal dystopia, or a lack of utopia. People can be discontent in a utopia as long as it is stable (which it seems to be in BNW).
- 082349872349872 6y ago
  Because utilitarians believe that topia-ness is proportional to some measure of average (whether mean, median, or modal, BNW is a happy society) contentment. You can make that claim without being a utilitarian, but I don't think one can be a utilitarian without making that claim. (unless one gets into "no true utility" :-) Bernard was discontent, but he was content when he could exploit the Savage, and he'll be very content on the island (and his discontentment was merely that, he was never suicidal). Mond would also rather be on an island (a place that sounds reminiscent of Dante's first circle) with all the cool people, if it weren't for his (programmed?) sense of duty. I don't get the sense that discontent too-individualistic people remain discontent once they are allowed to go to the islands. (In Huxley's england, I believe people who either wished or were forced to avoid the bottles of their copy-book upbringing became "remittance men" and women, some of whom wound up on literal islands.)

me_me_me 6y ago

Brave New World has a amazing ending that really pushed me on the fence whether the world of BNW is good or bad. I had few discussions of it and I still to this day, can't decide. It is definitely must read book, and its a good read too. Not a borish slog that puts you to sleep.