To: epicure who wrote (53767 ) 8/5/2002 10:49:26 AM From: Neocon Read Replies (1) | Respond to Surrendering notions of responsibility is a perfect formula for totalitarianism of the "Brave New World" variety. If we are merely a product of our genes under environmental pressure, with no meaningful autonomy or self, then there can be no objection to tailoring personalities for their social utility. We have every reason to eliminate conflict, by eliminating independent thought and feeling, or strong personal attachments. Thus, we have the state faise children, and make sex entirely recreational, to eliminate jealousy and the seething cauldron of familial affection and conflict. Knowing that there will always be different levels of work, requiring different ratios of brawn and brain, we ensure that there is a ready supply of each social class, neither too much nor too little, and that everyone fits his niche. We encourage hedonistic shallowness because deep feeling is individuating and anti- social. One method for this is the creation of the perfect drug ("soma", in the book), a sort of Prozac, tranquilizer, and mild hallucinogen, rolled into one. Remember, even, even, even, fun, fun, fun. To purge us of deeper feeling, we have ritualistic orgies, aided by soma, paying homage to Our Ford, the inspiration for assembly- line humanity. Generally, we make humanity what we will, with a mind to eliminating individuality and conflict. We even treat the occasional malcontent humanely, by isolating him with others of his kind, in relative freedom.
