I've always read Orwell and Huxley's books as warnings, and their private and public statements have always seemed to confirm this for me. I don't see admiration for Big Brother or the controllers in Brave New World,.
North Korea suggests Orwell was spot on. I don't of any examples of Huxley's model; western democracies suggest pleasure is addictive meaning we need ever greater doses leading to almost infinite narcissism. The ruling classes would prefer to preserve that for themselves.
Aldous Huxley was a Eugenicist. He told the BBC in 1932 that eugenicist measures could arrest the 'rapid deterioration... of the whole West European stock.' His brother
Julian Huxley wrote the Founding document of UNESCO , the first Director General who praises eugenics as an essential goal of humanity.
Aldous was the grandson of Thomas Henry Huxley, the zoologist, agnostic, and controversialist whom had often been called "Darwin's Bulldog". His brother Julian Huxley and half-brother Andrew Huxley also became outstanding biologists.
Sir Julian Sorell Huxley was an English evolutionary biologist, Eugenicist, and internationalist. He was a proponent of natural selection, and a leading figure in the mid-twentieth century modern synthesis. He was secretary of the Zoological Society of London (1935–1942), the first Director of UNESCO, a founding member of the World Wildlife Fund, the president of the British Eugenics Society (1959-1962), and the first President of the British Humanist Association.
In 1959 he received a Special Award from the Lasker Foundation in the category Planned Parenthood – World Population.
Useful and timely article, Jon, thanks.
You wrote “one can argue that Huxley might have been on to something”.
However, I consider Aldous’ version of the Totalitarian Takeover long ago won the argument.
See my “cross post” of your article:
WHEN FASCISM COMES TO AMERICA IT WILL NOT BE WITH JACKBOOTS
It will be with Nike sneakers and Smiley shirts
Get free, stay safe.
I think a lot of people agree with you that Huxley's vision of dystopia was fulfilled long ago.
Elements of it exist, to be sure.
My man! Just came across your analysis and wanted to introduce mine as well around the same time! https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/the-brave-new-world-of-1984-part
Great research and interesting analysis.
I've always read Orwell and Huxley's books as warnings, and their private and public statements have always seemed to confirm this for me. I don't see admiration for Big Brother or the controllers in Brave New World,.
Indeed, in some of his subsequent comments, Huxley would appear to urge humans to adopt mass decentralization to avoid the dystopian future he feared. https://jjmilt.substack.com/p/aldous-huxley-on-the-one-thing-that
North Korea suggests Orwell was spot on. I don't of any examples of Huxley's model; western democracies suggest pleasure is addictive meaning we need ever greater doses leading to almost infinite narcissism. The ruling classes would prefer to preserve that for themselves.
Right. Both Orwell and Huxley were correct.
Orwell was describing a future more like North Korea. Huxley was describing one more like the USA.
"You will own nothing. And be happy by 2030." Huxley for the win.
They were both right.
Correct
Huxley’s world is much more frightening than Orwell’s, for it is self-inflicted. Who doesn’t want to be happy? Loss of freedom is a consequence.
Aldous Huxley was a Eugenicist. He told the BBC in 1932 that eugenicist measures could arrest the 'rapid deterioration... of the whole West European stock.' His brother
Julian Huxley wrote the Founding document of UNESCO , the first Director General who praises eugenics as an essential goal of humanity.
UNESCO: its purpose and its philosophy. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000068197
Aldous was the grandson of Thomas Henry Huxley, the zoologist, agnostic, and controversialist whom had often been called "Darwin's Bulldog". His brother Julian Huxley and half-brother Andrew Huxley also became outstanding biologists.
Sir Julian Sorell Huxley was an English evolutionary biologist, Eugenicist, and internationalist. He was a proponent of natural selection, and a leading figure in the mid-twentieth century modern synthesis. He was secretary of the Zoological Society of London (1935–1942), the first Director of UNESCO, a founding member of the World Wildlife Fund, the president of the British Eugenics Society (1959-1962), and the first President of the British Humanist Association.
In 1959 he received a Special Award from the Lasker Foundation in the category Planned Parenthood – World Population.
Sit in your pod, eat your bugs, consume your Netflix, and be happy (in exchange for your vote).
Thanks for the extended use of Huxley's letter as nice to read the original source.