Brave New World Utilitarianism

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Within the story Brave New World, author Aldous Huxley depicts a seemingly utopian society dependent on a Utilitarian foundation, where pleasure and stability are of the greatest priority. Despite the appearance of a perfect society, a closer examination reveals the profound flaws in the Utilitarian ideology. Through societal conditioning, artificial mood alteration, and a corrupt power dynamic, Brave New World reveals several moral and ethical contradictions. Given these criteria, Utilitarianism is inherently a flawed ideology. Utilitarianism believes that: “A morally right action is one that produces more good and fewer bad consequences for everyone than any other action” (Velasquez, 441). Or in other words, morally wrong actions can be justified …show more content…

Working in tandem with conditioning, society has also been ingrained in several idioms often repeated throughout the story by Lenina such as: “A grammar is always better than a damn” (Huxley, 77). In order to prevent any revolution or acts of rebellion, the government conditions people like Lenina to take Soma to create a continuous loop of emotional alteration, paving the way for external manipulation to ensure society remains content enough to avoid the need to rebel or form an uprising of any kind. The emotional alteration further restricts free will and individuality as well as the experience of authentic emotions. Bernard Marx demonstrates this moral violation by reflecting on his own thoughts: “Often in the past he had wondered what it would be like to be subjected (soma-less and with nothing but his own inward resources to rely on) to some great trial, some pain, some persecution; he had even longed for …show more content…

The Director’s threats had actually elated him, made him feel larger than life” (Huxley, 89). In gaining insight into Bernard’s contemplation of what life would be like following his “own inward resources”, symbolizes his desire to be free and independent from the unethical Utilitarian control. Bernard longs to feel “some great trial, some pain, some persecution” and even goes as far as fantasizing about standing up to the Director, further conveying the fact he has grown discontent with the constant state of externally imposed happiness. Speaking morally, the experience of pain is crucial to life and Bernard and all the characters of Brave New World have the right to experience it. Pain fosters greater appreciation, respect, and care for the reward of authentic happiness. Without pain, happiness means nothing. Following this logic, the artificial happiness generated through Soma, bypasses all the crucial steps that add value and appreciation for happiness. This translates to a society completely deprived of free will, as well as authentic and original emotions, thereby depicting the unethical Utilitarian control and exploitation through the use of

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