Dyson's Can Science Be Ethical essay has some very interesting points, many that correlate with Brave New World. One point talks about the advancement of technology and how many useful things can come out of that. The technology presented in the novel is clearly astounding, from the helicopter rides that seem no big deal to the way that the humans are made.Another point is humans' desire not necessarily for perfection but anything close to that. Brave new World showcases what seem to be the best looking humans ever, as seen by their clear distaste of Linda and her unattractive features. Every one in the novel is fit with good teeth and no sign of wrinkles(Jim, this is your kind of world!).
One of the most important parts of the essay is when Dyson talks about how technology can be bad. "As a general rule,to which there are many exceptions,science works for evil when its effect is to provide toys for the rich, and works for good when its effect is to provide necessities for the poor." This quote has some truths but in the case of Brave New World it is not necessarily about advancements just for the rich but more so advancements for the few and powerful(though they can also be rich). In the novel a small few control the masses. How did they get that way? Technology is power whether it's in the form of intimidation or envy and the original creators of the World State clearly had at least one of them, if not both. The novel talks about how before the World State humans engaged in many wars and suffered from hunger and mania. After those ordeals who wouldn't say no to a stabilized state with happy pills?Sign me up! And once they've got them hooked on the pills the whole "poor will sooner or later rebel against the tyranny of technology" won't happen.
Dyson's declaration that new technology is just as dangerous as liberating can clearly be seen in Brave New World. Society's need for self improvement, stability, and desire to be lazy and get away with it will always be prevalent and can always be dangerous, as seen throughout the novel. The question is: Will we be able to recognize it before it ruins us?Gurl dat is too hard of a question, you gots to give me a minute.
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