He explains how rational information is drowned out by irrelevant nonsense (page 36). Modern dictators, says Huxley, use propaganda that relies on “ repetition” of slogans, “ suppression” of facts, and “ rationalization” of aroused “ passions,” which are then put to use to serve the State (page 36). I think we would be better off if we didn’t build our lives on questionable stories from preachers, gurus and texts, whether ancient or modern. I don’t dismiss all metaphysical beliefs and experiences, but I expect them to grounded in some kind of evidence, rationality, or even just an actual, truthful experience that you are not going to expect someone else to believe in who didn’t experience it. Note that “metaphysical fantasy” can refer to both religion and fiction. He states that those who spend their time in the “ irrelevant other worlds of sport and soap opera, of mythology and metaphysical fantasy, will find it hard to resist” those who manipulate society (page 36). The purpose of constant amusement is to prevent “people from paying too much attention to the realities of the social and political situation (page 35).” Both, he says, are distractions if lived in too constantly, and both can become the “ opium of the people” (page 35). Huxley compares entertainment to religion. For contents of this series and links to related commentaries on Brave New World, see series contents.īrave New World Revisited: Contradiction: Aldous Huxley warns against religion and entertainment as opium but lives his life promoting religious mysticism and drug useĪldous Huxley warns against religion in his non-fiction work Brave New World Revisited, explaining how religion, as well as entertainment and fiction, are used for the control of society:
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