An essay on life, care and death in the Brave New World after 1984

• Published date: 21 May 2018
• Pages: 318-331
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-12-2017-0269
• Date: 21 May 2018
• Author: Cornelia Klinger
• Subject Matter: HR & organizational behaviour,Employment law,Diversity, equality, inclusion

An essay on life, care and death

in the Brave New World after

1984

Cornelia Klinger

Department of Philosophy, Eberhard Karls-Universität, Tuebingen, Germany

Abstract

Purpose –In order to explore the impact of the recent wave of a technological revolution on global culture

and society, the purpose of this paper is to re-read the two most outstanding dystopian novels of the

mid-twentieth century. George Orwell and Aldous Huxley observe and anticipate technological development

in relation to questions of human nature and culture, individual identity and close relationships, matters of

care, privacy and private life. The totalitarian regimes both authors experienced in their time have

disappeared, yet today the two fields of high technology that fueled their fantasy are reaching levels of

development to surpass Orwell’s and Huxley’s daunting visions.

Design/methodology/approach –This paper approaches the recent innovations in the information and

communication technology as well as the upsurge of life sciences and bio-technology from a philosophical

perspective, considering their impact on the social structure (division of labor, distribution of wealth) as well

as on the symbolic order of advanced industrial societies (the sign and the body, life and death).

Findings –Taking up Michel Foucault ’s distinction between a ncient sovereign rule and mo dern

biopolitics, the aut hor suggests discerni ng a third stage of domi nation: bio economics p lus culture

industries. In contr ast to the two previous form s of domination, this new regime does not endeav or

to suppress but to foste r and unleash life. There fore, it instigates les s resistance and opposit ion but

meets with more approva l and compliance. Domina tion in this neoliberal- libertarian guise may pr ove

not less dangerous than t he former totalitarian variant. It force s the author to re-think ways of resistance

and critique.

Originality/value –This paper makes a theoreti cal contribution to the ana lysis of care, society

and democracy.

Keywords Neoliberalism, (Re-)Production of bodies and signs, ICT and life sciences, Late capitalism

Paper type Conceptual paper

The two most outstanding dystopian novels of the mid-twentieth century observe and

anticipate technological development in relation to questions of human nature and culture,

individual identity and close social relationships, matters of privacy and private life.

In his last novel, 1984, George Orwell envisions the potential of interactive audio-visual

media (the “telescreen”) to supervise and destroy individual freedom and social relations

under the sway of a totalitarian regime. In this context, intimate sexual affairs and maternal

love are perceived as the last but powerless sanctuaries of revolt and resistance against the

grip of an oppressive military dictatorship –to be overwhelmed and crushed in the end –

without hope.

In Brave New World, Aldous Huxley draws the image of a libertarian, benevolent and

even caring society under no less totalitarian governance. Among many other blessings of

technological progress (amenities and gadgets like individual flight devices), Huxley

(fore-)sees the possibilities of chemicals (drugs) to “liberate”sexuality from procreation, to

reduce pain and induce pleasure, in short, to enhance life and its “lovely progress,”while, at

the same time, fulfilling the dream of authoritarian rule: the nightmare of artificially

produced individuals who are sired in petri dishes and born into their α,β-, γ-, Δ- type places,

roles and functions in a stratified society –without escape.

Orwell and Huxley portray two different types or stages of human domination over

human beings: Orwell’s novel exemplifies the ancient strategy of sovereign rule based on

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

An International Journal

Vol. 37 No. 4, 2018

pp. 318-331

© Emerald PublishingLimited

2040-7149

DOI 10.1108/EDI-12-2017-0269

Received 1 December 2017

Accepted 24 December 2017

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

www.emeraldinsight.com/2040-7149.htm

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