After a high speed replay of the (IQ^2) debate (much to the annoyance of my wife & co.) my analysis is the following –
The unreduced strategies mentioned concerning The Brave New World were -
- Identity political structure
- Psychological conditioning thru obfuscation
- Distractive consumerism
- Sexual mandates
- Elimination of the family unite
- Genetic engineering
- Love only for the state
- Morality in a bottle
- Subtle extermination of the uncontrolled – “pests”
- Mood altering drugs
And concerning Nineteen Eight-Four –
- Subtle speech control
- Hypocrisy
- Artificial antagonists
- Power lust
- Thought crime
- Rewriting of history
- No need to think
- Authoritarian discourse
- Authoritarian logic
- Power of hatred – divisiveness
- Subjective reality
- Psychological conditioning thru suffering
- Power thru suffering
- Hatred, fear, triumph, self abasement - only
I think for decades the Brave New World scenario was in play – techniques to subtly and gently enslave the population without them realizing they were enslaved. Huxley didn’t get into the more fascist methods.
But then what no one expected – Mr Trump became US President.
Mr Trump was/is sort of a crude Jesus figure – standing up for the masses, tearing the curtain on the establishment, turning over the money changing tables… The Jewish coalition had to be thinking – “OH HELL – here we go AGAIN!”
So they sent the Devil after him (the Muller team) who found nothing to convict. And now they are headed for the Pontious Pilat trial. Mr Trump intends to remain silent. And after which they are already planning the crucifixion.
Throughout Rome the Christians were then persecuted – the current effort to ban all conservatives from society – even jail them merely for being associated with Mr Trump or conservative ideas.
And I think that is when the Huxley narrative switched to the Orwell narrative – fascist enforcement of “unity” to the state.
Orwell saw society not merely being tricked into compliance (mostly through language manipulation and mind control techniques) but also by authoritarian intimidation and forced submission (fascism) – not caring that the population now know they are enslaved.
A question is why did Orwell think that force would be necessary?
Actually James answered why it would be necessary but I suspect Orwell was probably just going by Nazi experience.
The Brave New World tactics would require absolute but hidden control over media and the economy (James’ “Media, Money, and Medicine”). And realistically that is always partially exposed – never truly absolutely hidden. That implies a potential for “tearing the curtain” – which is exactly what happened.
So we can see from Rome-Judaea history that eventually tyrannical fascism is a historical reality and with history repeating itself and at a weak state – what else could really be expected? – Authoritarian control over speech, enhanced surveillance, persecution of dissidents, banning of any means for the population to resist, and open abandonment of civil rights – no more US Constitution silliness.
The Brave New World narrative was just a little too weak to last. The Orwellian narrative was an inevitable backstop.
Huxley was a dreamer of a utopia through obfuscation – no need for the ugly extortion. Orwell was more realistic – some subterfuge but reinforced by fascism until all resistance was simply forgotten – relegated to the “black hole of forgetfulness” – the Abyss.
And of course following history – Welcome to the fall of Rome and The New Dark Age.
It has all been done before.
Huxley dreamt of French socialism.
Orwell remembered Nazi socialism - the inevitable consequent
I wonder if either thought about the Christians and the Fall of Rome.