Brave New World Revisited: Exploring Huxley's Dystopian Classic for a Fresh Perspective

In 1932, Aldous Huxley famously wrote a prophetic, rhetorical novel — considered by many to be a masterpiece — regarding American society's industrialization and technological advancement — which carried with it the dire prediction of an inevitable apocalypse for human civilization as we know it. Huxley's message, written during turbulence and fascism, has terrified millions of readers for generations. Now, almost a century later, Huxley's warnings and terrifying predictions are as relevant today as ever, as our society marches forward to a technologically advanced future that may come to undermine our sovereignty and humanity if we do not individually and collectively heed Huxley's words of caution.

Huxley's intuitive forecast is quite alarming because, despite its dystopian flavor, it shows a possible world that feels less of a fantasy and more like a bleak forewarning of the authentic trajectory we seem to be on today. John Locke's sacrosanct idea of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is predicted to be short-lived by both Huxley and George Orwell's similarly cynical novels.

Huxley vs. Orwell: A Comparison of Dystopian Visions

American author and professor Neil Postman, in his classic book "Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business," said the following about Huxley's novel, as compared to Orwell's:

What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. Huxley feared there would be no reason to ban a book, for no one wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much 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.

Postman is correct in his assertion that Huxley's novel is more relevant today when compared to that of Orwell. Although both authors propose strikingly possible predictions and warnings, Huxley's feels more accurate concerning our modern-day society and innate human tendencies that are easily recognizable today.

The Central Theme of "Brave New World"

In Brave New World, the central theme is about human's innate desire to make one's life easier and more efficient — thereby becoming more technologically adept — and in the novel's case, to the utmost extreme (it isn't hard to imagine what Huxley would think about the advent of AI and other ubiquitous modern technologies).

The World State Society and Its Consequences

Huxley's plot revolves around the World State society in which all inhabitants are products of artificial natal conception. The denizens have been deprived of literature, forbidden to form ideas that go against what is commonly accepted in the World State, have been made to think that history begins with the time of Our Ford — and have lost the aptitude, or at least the cognizant ability to do anything about it.

The Fear of Becoming Zombie-like

Huxley's predominant fear is that humans will inherently evolve into zombie-like people, where our distractions (including pleasures and luxuries) will precede our morals, values, and consciousness.

Postman mentioned that Huxley's message included a prediction of passivity and egoism. Humans would not necessarily become inactive in the physical sense, but their brains would certainly be idle and thus atrophy. It remains unclear as to whether or not Huxley predicted: "egoism" because most people in his story, from alphas to epsilons, would not have any ability to be "Self Reliant" (Ralph W. Emerson's notion) and would therefore be concerned simply with their specified duties and not interested in the betterment of themselves, as the ability to become better is technically impossible in the World State.

Throughout Huxley's novel, many characters seem less and less accurate as time passes. Huxley imagines how everyone would be hopelessly preoccupied with "feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy." In Huxley's story, every person is programmed to think and behave in a specific way, making them archetypes. Their world is full of iniquity and resembles a prison-like nightmare.

Revisiting "Brave New World" in 2023

In revisiting Brave New World through the lens of modern society in 2023, nearly a century after Huxley' published Brave New World, we should feel compelled to reflect again on these themes and prophetic warnings that he had the genius to devise long before AI was even a possibility. We must make sure that we carefully weigh out the costs and benefits associated with science (such as cutting-edge biotechnology) and emerging technologies, such as AI. Sometimes the "pleasures" and shiny veneer of these tools can create a façade and indulge us into saying "yes" (and, just as importantly, make our ability to communicate "no" more courageous, if not more difficult) without deliberation, thoughtfulness, and prudence. As Huxley illustrated, the consequences can surface exponentially and are eventually irrevocable. 

John: The Voice of Repudiation

A rare exception to the majority of people in Huxley's novel is John. John would prefer the world as we know it "now." John says the following in outright repudiation of the World State:

"…I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin" (240).

John, or "The Savage" as he came to be called, was willing to be unhappy, unsafe, and unstable so long as he could think, act independently, and be free.

Preserving Autonomy, Maturity, and History

 According to Huxley, our "infinite appetite for distractions" will eventually deprive us of our "autonomy, maturity, and history." On reflection, we ought to be thankful to the masterful social critics such as Orwell and Huxley. If we heed their warnings, we may be able to avoid a captive culture like the "World State consciously."

We can not say we weren't forewarned.