I love the book I’m reading now, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I know, I know. I’ve been going on and on about this book since last year or maybe two years ago pa. From the first chapter I know I’m in for a treat.
The book started with some students on a tour inside the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Center. “Hatchery” referring to breeding of humans. In their time, the thought of humans being produced the viviparous way is shocking. The way they do it is by cloning fertilized eggs up to 16,000x - the more they produce the more efficient the system - so you will have 16,000 twins running around. “Conditioning” referring to humans being predestined and conditioned starting from when they are embryos until they are fully matured. For instance, the group chosen to become miners or steel workers in the tropics are conditioned to withstand heat. They also breed by social castes, Alpha to Epsilon. Those who will grow up as Deltas are conditioned to hate books because they will waste the Community’s time by spending time reading. Conditioning was done when they were babies; they would be shown books and every time babies touch them, they are electrocuted. Another example, with the Epsilons, the lowest caste, alcohol is injected in the fetuses’ blood surrogate so they don’t develop intelligence because they don’t have use for it.
So far, here’s my favorite quote,
“…the secret of happiness and virtue - liking what you’ve got to do. All conditioning aims at that: making people like their unescapable social destiny.”
…this is by the Director of the Hatchery and Conditioning. In their world, complete control of society, in every aspect imaginable, is the solution to the all-important stability. Truth? I find these kinds of worlds/societies somewhat ideal (notice emphasis on somewhat). The idea of a controlled society is more appealing than anarchy. I prefer the sense of safety and ‘happiness’.
I’m only about 1/4 through but there’s already so much about the book that made me think, or shocked me. I will share some more as I go along (if I don’t get lazy ;).
