The Scouring Of The Tao (02.09.2000)
Ere the turn of this new millennium, the world has seen a numerous surfacing of prophecies about the cataclysmic events that should be occurring, in all accuracy, now. There is also an equally great amount of individuals who follow these predictions, and who are changing their lives in light of them. Believers have excavated the texts of Nostradamus, the Bible, and various other religious and clairvoyant works from ages passed. Among those, we find Brave New World, Aldous Huxley's "most enduring work." It is a vision of the future. Though perhaps not quite as glamorous as Armageddon, it may be closer to the truth than Hollywood would want to admit. Brave New World raises many questions about society as it is today, and whether or not it may actually take that course in the centuries to come. One notion in particular that seems to follow throughout, is the conflicting emotions instilled by the narrative. It is approbation and objection to the entire situation all at once. More clearly, as appealing as the apparently perfect society is, it also stands against most of what the doctrines of today's society seem to be, violating the basic human rights. Thus, since these conflicting sentiments are an accompaniment throughout this Brave New World, an important question is raised. Is the society portrayed by Aldous Huxley a utopia or is it a dystopia? In light of the modern views of the west, as well as those of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching to provide another perspective, the following argument is to demonstrate that there is another possibility; that this is not a mere deciding of whether the society is a utopia or dystopia in a purely black-and-white fashion. Rather, the intention here is to show that this is a relative situation.
Before conclusions are drawn, however, one aspect must be clarified. In order to begin to answer the question of whether or not this is a utopia, the question must be fully understood first. This understanding is derived by precisely defining what is meant by the terms utopia and dystopia. The former, utopia, takes its meaning from the Greek, standing for "no place" (Webster's Dictionary). The actual definition, according to Webster's Dictionary, is (1) an imaginary and indefinitely remote place, (2) a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions, and (3) an impractical scheme for social improvement. Whereas dystopia is defined as (1) an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives, and (2) an anti-utopia. As such, for the purposes of this exploration, the terms of utopia and dystopia taken as here defined. Though, realizing that even the definitions provided are rather vague, one more step needs to be taken in order to lay the groundwork for the actual investigation.
If these definitions were to be shown to the characters of Brave New World in question, their interpretations would undoubtedly be different. Therefore, the specifics of the meanings of these words depend largely on the individual's perspective. The people's so called conditioning determines what they perceive as ideal, be it the place or life itself. In the typical Brave New World citizen's view, it can be assumed that a Utopia is the society in which they already live. As for John, the case would be quite different. Following his encounter with the actual Brave New World, as opposed to his expectations, it is unclear what he believes. Though it is likely that his ideal life would be more as that of the one he has lead on the reservation, but where he would be respected and accepted. It would possibly include some of the luxuries of the civilized world, obtainable only through a certain amount of effort. "What you need . . . is something with tears for a change. Nothing costs enough here," were John's exact words; which proposes that he would not want to abolish all of civilized life (Huxley 239). In short, John's idea of a utopia is a hybrid between the reservation and the civilized world. It is a world that is civilized, yet not so civilized as to make extinct the values which he holds dear; a technologically advanced world, not entirely disburdened.
"I paid. By choosing to serve happiness. Other people's—not mine," admits Mustapha Mond, in his conversation with John and Watson (Huxley 229). That revelation demonstrates how the controller, to an extent, wishes to follow his inquisitive tendencies as a scientist. To Mustapha, an ideal place is a place where he does not have the burden of having to worry about all the society's stability and happiness.
The Taoist would define the above mentioned perhaps somewhat differently. From the Taoist point of view, a Utopia would be a society which lets things be as they are. "Keep sharpening your knife / and it will blunt," (Lao Tzu 9); which would obviously mean no bokanovskyfication, no soma, and, due to it, quite possibly no "brave new world." The Taoist utopia is a world which goes with the flow of existences.
Furthermore, to live in the Tao means to have all complimentary opposites. "Know the white, / yet keep to the black," is the motto of the Tao (Lao Tzu 28). Complimentary existence between Yin and Yang means also to have a balance between good and bad, discomfort and pleasure. Brave New World does not have a balanced relationship between the two opposites, and therefore cannot be called a utopia in light of the Tao. Although, founded upon stability, the final goal of this brave new world is happiness. "You've got to choose between happiness and what people used to call high art. We've sacrificed high art," proclaims Mustapha (Huxley 220). However, "it isn't only art that's incompatible with happiness; it's also science," (Huxley 225). Thus, it appears, to gain happiness, sacrifices must be made; two of which are art and science. It is discomfort, suffering, and the negative which fuel the pyres of the fine arts, as it is the necessity which breeds scientific advancement; disburden humanity by removing necessity for advancement, and art and science deteriorate. The question is whether happiness itself constitutes a utopian society. As prescribed by the definition, in order to have a utopia one must have ideal perfection in laws, government, and social conditions. Brave New World has ideally perfected those three aspects; but does that mean that happiness is the catalyst for the formation of them? It seems more likely that those factors came first and thus created happiness, in which case this civilization can be classified as a Utopia according to western thought.
Still, taking a closer look at the last condition for a Utopian society, it may not necessarily be true that social conditions are ideal. For, as is the case in everything in the universe, a balance must be struck in order to achieve perfection. A civilization as is portrayed in Brave New World would, essentially, not know the difference between what is good and what is not. If all negativity is done away with, then the society would not recognize that what is left is actually good. The result in this case would be indifference. Thus, to achieve balance, there must be a basically equal amount of affliction and luxury in each citizens life. Or perhaps more accurately, only as much misery needs to be present as not to render the individual psychologically unstable; and only as much as the person in question can adapt to or overcome. The amount in particular differs from individual to individual, and must needs be taken on that basis; as there is no one definitive answer.
The Tao Te Ching concurs with this assessment in its focus on the Yin and Yang. As mentioned previously, the one does not exist without the other. "Being and non-being create each other," is the Taoist word (Lao Tzu 2). However, in this Brave New World a forced imbalance exists, as nature endeavors to correct it, it cannot as it is being controlled. For in the Taoist utopia, the wheel keeps turning itself, and no need of effort to turn it exists. Brave New World, however, is keeping the wheel turning by means of control, and therefore "acting." The Yin-Yang is not longer thus, but rather an apparent Yang only to create an imbalanced happiness.
Consequently, it is not necessarily a question of whether Brave New World is a Utopian or dystopian society, but rather, who perceives it as a Utopia or Dystopia. Mustapha and the typical citizens may think it the former, while John and the Taoist argue the latter. In the end, however, it is not who is correct in their assessment or not, as all points of view incorporate a fragment of truth. As with good and evil, love and hate, one cannot be without the other; the ever-changing Yin and Yang being the true wheel that keeps on turning. They are complimentary aspects of the same object, and to remove the former, removes the latter; it leaves nothing. Considering all the evidence, it is conceivable that the Taoist may be more correct than the rest, despite the fact that it is not a question of right or wrong. Though, since nature is the model of balance, and that which the Taoist follows, it may be legitimate after all to asses that this is the true path. On the other hand, "The Tao that can be told / is not the eternal Tao;" which leads back to the beginning of the individual perspective (Lao Tzu 1). It may not be in accordance with Brave New World's laws, but it is the indefatigable truth. Insisting on it, Mustapha Mond must needs yield and would say "you're welcome" (Huxley 240).
Works Cited
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: HarperPerennial, 1998.
Lao Tzu. Tao Te Ching. Trans. Stephen Mitchell. New York: HarperPerennial, 1992.
Webster's Dictionary in INFOPEDIA. CD-ROM. New York: Future Vision Multimedia, 1995.
