1. I would say the first and most obvious similarity would have to be the fact that our world like the Brave New World is fastly approaching lifestyles based on pleasure. In our modern times everyone knows, sex sells. That and everything is made easier and money is made all the time on what makes us feel better and reduces stress in our lives so that we can be more happy with our own lives.
2.Another likeness between the two is the prolonging of youth. New procedures are created everyday to "take off a few years" with the goal in mind to indefinitely prolong youth such as that created by the injections in Brave New World.
3.The final similarity to be found between the two worlds commitement is becoming less of an issue in relationship now. In previous times it used to be when you got married you stayed that way or you dated maybe a couple people in you lifetime but now it is much different. Divorces are skyrocketing and it is put out there by the media that better you are the more partners you can have. This resembles the casual sexual relationships that occur as a regularity in Brave New World and as time goes on the relationship between our two worlds only get closer.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Social Conditioning
In the book BNW many people are appalled by the social conditioning of the people through the sleep hypnosis. They say that conditioning is not humane or right and takes away their free will and leaves them as zombies such as Lenina. However John, the savage, even though he did not grow up there has his own social conditioning it just happened to be while he was awake instead of sleeping which proved to be almost just as effective. The only reason it seems wrong is because they were conditioned differently so they disagree on what is right because they both believe each other wrong and odd in what they are doing. In truth the only reason we see Lenina being in the wrong ourselves is because we were conditioned more closely to what John was in that we believe such things as men and women are supposed to have just one partner instead of many and things such as sex and pleasure are not to be taken so lightly. The conditioning only differs in that instead of being told by someone in our sleep we are raised to act like those around us and most of the time end up shadowing their own belief systems.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Brave New World
1. When looking at Brave New World and Utopia it is obvious that they do not share many similarities. In fact they are exact opposites as one is a utopic society while the other is a distopic one, however some can still be found. One of these similarities lies within the subject of traveling. In both places it is required that one must have permission before going to another place or city. This is used to keep track of all citizens so if they are needed they can be found. It also seems to be a method of control if need be.
2.Brave New World although a distopic society actually has some things that I do not find completely awful. The main one being the being able to get rid of old age and have extended youth until your death bed. This is also because there are no more diseases or sickness which is another huge achievement that cannot be taken lightly.
3.Brave New World however as a distopic society is obviously going to have some problems. Although they create happiness, it does not make them right. The one I have the most problems with is the repetitive rules and thoughts that are programmed into each persons head when they are younger. These ruels take away free will and make it so that nobody can make their own decisions anymore, they just accept everything the way it is because that is what they have been conditioned to do.
2.Brave New World although a distopic society actually has some things that I do not find completely awful. The main one being the being able to get rid of old age and have extended youth until your death bed. This is also because there are no more diseases or sickness which is another huge achievement that cannot be taken lightly.
3.Brave New World however as a distopic society is obviously going to have some problems. Although they create happiness, it does not make them right. The one I have the most problems with is the repetitive rules and thoughts that are programmed into each persons head when they are younger. These ruels take away free will and make it so that nobody can make their own decisions anymore, they just accept everything the way it is because that is what they have been conditioned to do.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Book 2 Cont.
1. Of Their Slaves
Slaves are not a legacy or a class of citizen that can be passed on. I find it reasonable to have slaves under the effect that they are all criminals condemned to life. I find this is much more reasonable and useful than a death sentence. Slavery is just basically what that have instead of capital punishment for truthfully it is more terrible to the crimanals than death itself.
2. Marriage
I believe it is better to have the age restriction on marriage which they set at 18 for women and 22 for men. The age for men I believe should be equal to the women but I support the restriction itself. There next testament is that there is no sex before marriage unless you wish to be severely punished and denied marriage for the rest of their life. Marriage in Utopia is taken as a serious sacrement also in that there are no divorces unless adultery is present. Their society would not work well in an American one I know that is for sure.
3.Law
Of their law they have no lawyers. I find it entertaining that this is the case as it is mostly because they regard it as a dishonest profession so their job is despised. In place of this every man must plead his own case and trust it to the judge to make the decison. It is because of this that citizens most know the law themselves and in this knowledge they are actually less likely to make offences as most crime is ignorance of the law in my opinion.
4.Military and War
Utopians first of all detest war as a brutal thing however as is my opinion war is not something you can just put away since it is sometimes necessary. For this point all citizens of Utopia are trained daily in military exercises and disipline. This I believe is an intelligent decison and just common sense because just on account of the fact that you dont want war does not mean someone else will not. For the most part due to their stance though the only wars they fight are those to help out their friends. In return for this help they are able to hire soldiers as well for their own wars so that they do not have to fight the wars themselves. In this they take out those that wish to fight on both sides and basically just take out two birds with one stone. They must not be taken for cowards with this opinion though for when they do fight there is no surrendering for them, no retreat.
5.Religion
Of the relegion it is much like our own in America. They have an open system in which all religions are tolerated. In fact they have enacted laws just so that all have freedom of religion. Their priests are not highly decorated in these also but just regarded as regular citizens. One thing that sets them apart it mentions is that in the realm of musical and instrumental ability they have no comparison. I believe this comes from their desire for peace and allows them to express this through song.
Slaves are not a legacy or a class of citizen that can be passed on. I find it reasonable to have slaves under the effect that they are all criminals condemned to life. I find this is much more reasonable and useful than a death sentence. Slavery is just basically what that have instead of capital punishment for truthfully it is more terrible to the crimanals than death itself.
2. Marriage
I believe it is better to have the age restriction on marriage which they set at 18 for women and 22 for men. The age for men I believe should be equal to the women but I support the restriction itself. There next testament is that there is no sex before marriage unless you wish to be severely punished and denied marriage for the rest of their life. Marriage in Utopia is taken as a serious sacrement also in that there are no divorces unless adultery is present. Their society would not work well in an American one I know that is for sure.
3.Law
Of their law they have no lawyers. I find it entertaining that this is the case as it is mostly because they regard it as a dishonest profession so their job is despised. In place of this every man must plead his own case and trust it to the judge to make the decison. It is because of this that citizens most know the law themselves and in this knowledge they are actually less likely to make offences as most crime is ignorance of the law in my opinion.
4.Military and War
Utopians first of all detest war as a brutal thing however as is my opinion war is not something you can just put away since it is sometimes necessary. For this point all citizens of Utopia are trained daily in military exercises and disipline. This I believe is an intelligent decison and just common sense because just on account of the fact that you dont want war does not mean someone else will not. For the most part due to their stance though the only wars they fight are those to help out their friends. In return for this help they are able to hire soldiers as well for their own wars so that they do not have to fight the wars themselves. In this they take out those that wish to fight on both sides and basically just take out two birds with one stone. They must not be taken for cowards with this opinion though for when they do fight there is no surrendering for them, no retreat.
5.Religion
Of the relegion it is much like our own in America. They have an open system in which all religions are tolerated. In fact they have enacted laws just so that all have freedom of religion. Their priests are not highly decorated in these also but just regarded as regular citizens. One thing that sets them apart it mentions is that in the realm of musical and instrumental ability they have no comparison. I believe this comes from their desire for peace and allows them to express this through song.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Book 2
Geography of Utopia
The fact that Utopus turned this mainland barbarian inhabited wilderness is a wonder upon itself. It was ingenious to dig the canal and make it into and island because this along with the coast has seemed to keep away attackers. It was also a smart move on his part to include his own workers with those he more or less enslaved to build the canal. This would quench most thoughts of revolt by the inhabitants because it makes it seem more like they are working together to build a better home.
Of Their Towns
The first paragraph rather let me down in description of the towns. It says who that knows one knows them all. This would seem rather boring because there would be no point in going anywhere if the journey is going to take you to the same place you just left. What is curious to me also is that one of the themes in the last book was that we shouldnt have trained soldiers in times of peace and they dont seem like they have been attacked before yet the town is within a high thick wall with towers and forts occupying many spaces. Then as if to cancel these out within the walls and and towers lie huge gardens that they cultivate with extrme care. This rather reminds me of a monastery.
Magistrates
The whole higharchy of the the elections and sects seem extremely complicated in this system yet in its complexity it does seem to emaphasize perfection. Everyones voice is heard one way or another but they are still able to retain anonymity so that what they have to say they can say in complete confidence of their own opinion. They cant be scared or pressured into making decisions they do not wish to make.
Trades and Manner of Life
Their manner of life and trades comes at a slight bother to me. It seems that nobody is really free to choose what they going to do with their life. It is expected for sons to follow and take after the work of their fathers. While this is good for some it reminds me to much of the class system of the medival times which did not exactly end on the best of terms.
Traffic
Their population laws seem somewhat harsh. Although they do not kill people the growth extends ot much they do just send them away. This would be extrememly hard to deal with if all the sudden you were just told there are to many people in your family or group so you have to be the one to leave.
Traveling
The fact that you need permission to travel seems absolutely ridiculous to me. Although as I expressed earlier the point to travel is somewhat decreased as all of the cities are exactly the same apparently so I guess since not many people travel it would not be that big of a deal in the long run.
The fact that Utopus turned this mainland barbarian inhabited wilderness is a wonder upon itself. It was ingenious to dig the canal and make it into and island because this along with the coast has seemed to keep away attackers. It was also a smart move on his part to include his own workers with those he more or less enslaved to build the canal. This would quench most thoughts of revolt by the inhabitants because it makes it seem more like they are working together to build a better home.
Of Their Towns
The first paragraph rather let me down in description of the towns. It says who that knows one knows them all. This would seem rather boring because there would be no point in going anywhere if the journey is going to take you to the same place you just left. What is curious to me also is that one of the themes in the last book was that we shouldnt have trained soldiers in times of peace and they dont seem like they have been attacked before yet the town is within a high thick wall with towers and forts occupying many spaces. Then as if to cancel these out within the walls and and towers lie huge gardens that they cultivate with extrme care. This rather reminds me of a monastery.
Magistrates
The whole higharchy of the the elections and sects seem extremely complicated in this system yet in its complexity it does seem to emaphasize perfection. Everyones voice is heard one way or another but they are still able to retain anonymity so that what they have to say they can say in complete confidence of their own opinion. They cant be scared or pressured into making decisions they do not wish to make.
Trades and Manner of Life
Their manner of life and trades comes at a slight bother to me. It seems that nobody is really free to choose what they going to do with their life. It is expected for sons to follow and take after the work of their fathers. While this is good for some it reminds me to much of the class system of the medival times which did not exactly end on the best of terms.
Traffic
Their population laws seem somewhat harsh. Although they do not kill people the growth extends ot much they do just send them away. This would be extrememly hard to deal with if all the sudden you were just told there are to many people in your family or group so you have to be the one to leave.
Traveling
The fact that you need permission to travel seems absolutely ridiculous to me. Although as I expressed earlier the point to travel is somewhat decreased as all of the cities are exactly the same apparently so I guess since not many people travel it would not be that big of a deal in the long run.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Themes of Utopia
Book 1 Concepts
1. The way to heaven does not change based on where you are at.
This statement is basically just common sense. No matter where you are located physically when you die it is not going to change where you end up afterwards. That is determined by the actions you made while still alive.
2.Sometimes you must sacrafice your own comfort to help others.
The philosopher says he does not wish to be in the service of some king despite the fact that he would be a wise counselor. I disagree with this, although it is obvious it is not his wish if it would be of benifit to a large numbe of people he should do that.
3. Personal Experience is the best way to aquire knowledge.
Although you can learn from the experiences of others you can never truly know if the same thing will happen if you do it. There is always a questioning of whether or not unless you are able to experience the event for yourself.
4. No amount of Money Should be worth a Human life.
There are not many truer words than these for although money can buy many things it cannot replace a human life. For nobody knows for sure what a person could be able to contribute within their life. Making it so there is always that change they could change our race as we know it.
5.Communism Does not Work.
I found it entertaining that although there was no such thing as communism yet Sir Thomas More makes several comments addresses what will become communism. He tells us that no human can be expected to live a life exactly the same as someone else. It is our individuality and drive to be different that makes us human.
1. The way to heaven does not change based on where you are at.
This statement is basically just common sense. No matter where you are located physically when you die it is not going to change where you end up afterwards. That is determined by the actions you made while still alive.
2.Sometimes you must sacrafice your own comfort to help others.
The philosopher says he does not wish to be in the service of some king despite the fact that he would be a wise counselor. I disagree with this, although it is obvious it is not his wish if it would be of benifit to a large numbe of people he should do that.
3. Personal Experience is the best way to aquire knowledge.
Although you can learn from the experiences of others you can never truly know if the same thing will happen if you do it. There is always a questioning of whether or not unless you are able to experience the event for yourself.
4. No amount of Money Should be worth a Human life.
There are not many truer words than these for although money can buy many things it cannot replace a human life. For nobody knows for sure what a person could be able to contribute within their life. Making it so there is always that change they could change our race as we know it.
5.Communism Does not Work.
I found it entertaining that although there was no such thing as communism yet Sir Thomas More makes several comments addresses what will become communism. He tells us that no human can be expected to live a life exactly the same as someone else. It is our individuality and drive to be different that makes us human.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
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