As you know, in the book Brave New World (Chapter 2) some babies are conditioned to fear flowers and books. Mond reasons that the conditioning process is allowed because it regulates and separates the citizens into their social class. However, what kind of mind would initially perceive this idea as humane, and go through with creating a process that classifies a child at birth by fear? Or what kind of person would intentionally stunt a child's brain to help the world be organized? Would you call this person a monster or a hero?
I choose to believe the first person to create such a process believes he is a hero, but is ultimately a "monster." I think it is wrong to make changes to a human without consent, even if it is for the greater good, whatever that is.
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Yes, Chyenne, I agree. Who in the world gives them the right to manipulate another human for their selfish needs? It's almost like abuse, neglect, it's beyond inhumane. They are actually shaping their minds. Brave New World is such a good book, but the things experienced in Brave New World can relate to things in real life. Such as hypnosis--shifting one's thoughts to make them do what you wish. Molest--unwanted behavior, which it changing a human's life without consent...forever. I really enjoy books of this kind, I would suggest (if you are a book nerd like me) to read Mysterious Skin by Scott Heim and Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews, both very great, grotesque books that involve monsters and manipulation that I've enjoyed. The movies are awesome as well (and it doesn't hurt that one of the main characters, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a fine young man!) Maybe we are all monsters, we all have our selfish, greedy moments. I wouldn't call someone who invents such a world, a hero--but like you said, initially they may be confused as one.
ReplyDeleteCompletely! It is immensely wrong to predetermine what each person will become, and with that way of living there is no chance to explore and find yourself-because you are made witha prepackaged mind. It is totally insane to make children fear things in order to bend their will. Hopefull this hero/monster will die long before we get to that point in our own world.
ReplyDeleteCheyenne, i think you should consider the Nazis. Even without historical facts, it is common knowledge that those left alive and caught pled innocent because 'they were only following orders'.
ReplyDeleteAnother example would be from a fake television show where conteststants were given a dial and asked to turn in up in intervals. meanwhile, the victim sitting opposite them would secretly act as if they were getting electrocuted. i don't exactly remember what the fake goal was, but if the contestant kept turning up the dial, they would get more money. Some of the contestants were instantly alarmed at their team-mate's suffering, but were quickly reassured by the host, who said they felt no pain (even though that was clearly a lie). Some contestants did not believe the host and quit, but others had cranked the dial all the way. At this point, the team-mate appeared limp, unconcious. The contestant then felt very uneasy, finally questioning what he had just done, while the host was still smiling and congratulating him on his winnings.
So Cheyenne, maybe the person is neither a hero nor a monster. Maybe they were just following orders.
The mind that came up with that concept would be a hero if you considered the stability of the society. If taken out of this context, then the mind would be neither a hero or monster because such labels are trivial in a situation with no context.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there are still problems with the label of hero or monster even if it were used in a context like the stability of a society. How do you define or quantify a hero or monster? The most logical method would be to compare the ends with the means. Ultimately this moral dilemma can be boiled down to the question, do the ends justify the means?