- Critique the author
Why does Huxley create a new world? I think it is very weird how he created a new world. I have no idea what was going through his mind when he did this. Why would he do this? Would you if you had the chance take soma or would you just live with your problems? If I was given this opportunity I would live with the problems because the only way to succeed is to learn from your mistakes. Is that the message he is trying to get across? Is he trying to say that we should be lucky with the world we live in? I think that the way he wrote this book pretty bad and confusing. There are a ton of scientific words that he uses to describe what is going on. It is pretty hard for a regular person to grab ahold of this material. Did his past influence the way he wrote the book?
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Science
I think as technology continues to advance especially in the area of human biology; the question of ethical issues behind advancements should be approached. This would involve the change and determination of genes. If society begins to test genes in any sort of way, a new type of discrimination will be created. This will create a new class system and also widen the gap between the rich and the poor because the rich will be able to genetically engineer their children to be perfect. In the movie, Gattaca, the main character, Vincent Freeman, needs to hide his genes in order to achieve his dreams. He was originally discriminated against in the workplace because of his DNA. In this case, Vincent is completely capable of doing any job, but he has to pretend to be someone else in order to actually be able to. I think this is quite ridiculous, and I would hate to see our society become like this one. At some point, the government will need to step in and guide scientific advances. Instead of asking could we when it comes to these advances, we will need to start asking should we.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Epsilons vs. Babies
Race #4: How are the attitudes toward the poor in A Modest Proposal similar to the attitudes toward the Epsilons in BNW?
1. Babies in A Modest Proposal and Epsilons in BNW are treated very similarly. Epsilons are created to serve all other castes and to do the most labor-intensive work. They are created dumb so that they do not have the ability to challenge the other castes, however they are a respected necessity of the World State society. Jonathan Swift proposes that to attack the problem of poverty, a simple solution would be to eat the babies of the homeless and use them for resources of clothing, heat and other basic needs. These views are similar because they each show how while they are dumb, dumb is not necessarily what they need to be used for; epsilons and babies can serve purposes despite being unintelligent.
Quotes of support:
BNW:
• Page 27: “Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are stupid. They all wear green, and Delta children wear khaki. Oh no, I don't want to play with Delta children. And Epsilons are still worse. They're too stupid to be able to read or write. Besides they wear black, which is such a beastly colour. I'm so glad I'm a Beta." – shows how little respect Epsilons actually get from other castes because in the sleep-teaching they are taught to disrespect and not appreciate the Epsilons.
• Page 65: “How bitterly he envied men…who never had to shout at an Epsilon to get an order obeyed.” Bernard is using the control over the Epsilons to justify power in society, thus anybody that can easily control them has a high status. This quotation also explains that the Epsilons are solely controlled “pawns” of society to serve one purpose, providing for others. Swifts’ use of babies is similar to this because they are to serve basic necessities for humans as well.
A Modest Proposal:
• Page 2: “I have reckoned upon a medium that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nurses, increaseth to 28 pounds. I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.” Swift is suggesting that babies can be priced as a token for landlords when people cannot pay their rent. He is suggesting that babies are to serve basic purposes of life to their parents, and having them do so will solve problems that are occurring. Similar to Epsilons, babies are intended to serve the lowest purpose in society and possibly even more extreme than Epsilons because they are being used as food.
1. Babies in A Modest Proposal and Epsilons in BNW are treated very similarly. Epsilons are created to serve all other castes and to do the most labor-intensive work. They are created dumb so that they do not have the ability to challenge the other castes, however they are a respected necessity of the World State society. Jonathan Swift proposes that to attack the problem of poverty, a simple solution would be to eat the babies of the homeless and use them for resources of clothing, heat and other basic needs. These views are similar because they each show how while they are dumb, dumb is not necessarily what they need to be used for; epsilons and babies can serve purposes despite being unintelligent.
Quotes of support:
BNW:
• Page 27: “Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't work so hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are stupid. They all wear green, and Delta children wear khaki. Oh no, I don't want to play with Delta children. And Epsilons are still worse. They're too stupid to be able to read or write. Besides they wear black, which is such a beastly colour. I'm so glad I'm a Beta." – shows how little respect Epsilons actually get from other castes because in the sleep-teaching they are taught to disrespect and not appreciate the Epsilons.
• Page 65: “How bitterly he envied men…who never had to shout at an Epsilon to get an order obeyed.” Bernard is using the control over the Epsilons to justify power in society, thus anybody that can easily control them has a high status. This quotation also explains that the Epsilons are solely controlled “pawns” of society to serve one purpose, providing for others. Swifts’ use of babies is similar to this because they are to serve basic necessities for humans as well.
A Modest Proposal:
• Page 2: “I have reckoned upon a medium that a child just born will weigh 12 pounds, and in a solar year, if tolerably nurses, increaseth to 28 pounds. I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children.” Swift is suggesting that babies can be priced as a token for landlords when people cannot pay their rent. He is suggesting that babies are to serve basic purposes of life to their parents, and having them do so will solve problems that are occurring. Similar to Epsilons, babies are intended to serve the lowest purpose in society and possibly even more extreme than Epsilons because they are being used as food.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
CST Blog Visitors: How to respond
Click on the category in which you would like to post. Add a "comment". Post your response in your comment and click publish.
Remember, our class rules apply for all posts and discussion. Be respectful of other ideas and take all the care that you would for a regular class assignment.
To Dr. Solis' class: Thank you for including us in your discussions.
Have fun!
-Mrs. Resnick (Mr. Gallivan and Mr. Kallay)
Remember, our class rules apply for all posts and discussion. Be respectful of other ideas and take all the care that you would for a regular class assignment.
To Dr. Solis' class: Thank you for including us in your discussions.
Have fun!
-Mrs. Resnick (Mr. Gallivan and Mr. Kallay)
Individuality, Identity, and Conformity
1. In order to prevent individuality, what kind of things are discouraged in Brave New World? Why does Huxley target those?
2. If the motto of the World State is “Community, Identity, and Stability,” how are those three ideas carried out?
3. At some level conformity is necessary to engage in a society or culture. When does conformity start to have a negative impact on individuals or society at large?
4. What would it mean to conform to being a “non-conformist”?
5. In Gattaca, Vincent overcomes his “predetermined” identity. In our society, what kinds of predetermined identities exist? Is it possible to overcome this? Is it the norm?
1. In order to prevent individuality, what kind of things are discouraged in Brave New World? Why does Huxley target those?
2. If the motto of the World State is “Community, Identity, and Stability,” how are those three ideas carried out?
3. At some level conformity is necessary to engage in a society or culture. When does conformity start to have a negative impact on individuals or society at large?
4. What would it mean to conform to being a “non-conformist”?
5. In Gattaca, Vincent overcomes his “predetermined” identity. In our society, what kinds of predetermined identities exist? Is it possible to overcome this? Is it the norm?
Race/Class/Gender, Prejudice, Discrimination, and Power
1. Who are the women we encounter in BNW and Gattaca? From these examples, what, if anything, can be concluded about the role of women in both BNW and Gattaca?
2. What can you infer about the attitude towards the poor in Ireland when Jonathan Swift wrote A Modest Proposal? How is this alike or different from attitudes towards people of working class or lower socioeconomic classes today?
3. How are the attitudes toward the poor in A Modest Proposal similar to the attitudes toward the Epsilons in BNW?
4. The class conditioning that exists in BNW is very explicit. What are the more implicit kinds of class conditioning in our society?
5. Though Swift’s notion of “eating the poor” seems extreme and appalling, he says “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children” (2). In what other aspects of society do we more metaphorically “devour the poor”?
1. Who are the women we encounter in BNW and Gattaca? From these examples, what, if anything, can be concluded about the role of women in both BNW and Gattaca?
2. What can you infer about the attitude towards the poor in Ireland when Jonathan Swift wrote A Modest Proposal? How is this alike or different from attitudes towards people of working class or lower socioeconomic classes today?
3. How are the attitudes toward the poor in A Modest Proposal similar to the attitudes toward the Epsilons in BNW?
4. The class conditioning that exists in BNW is very explicit. What are the more implicit kinds of class conditioning in our society?
5. Though Swift’s notion of “eating the poor” seems extreme and appalling, he says “I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children” (2). In what other aspects of society do we more metaphorically “devour the poor”?
Technology, Science, and Genetics
1. The author Michael Crichton has presented the thesis that science has been so involved in asking, “could we?” that it never stops to ask, “should we?” Should we? Consider that before the Wright brothers “invented” flight, many people believed that humans were not meant to fly, therefore, we shouldn’t’ explore that possibility.
2. How is using genetic engineering for medical purposes (to avoid cancer, let’s say) or physical purposes (choosing hair and eye color) different from the vaccines, organ transplants, plastic surgery, ACT prep courses, etc. that we engage in now?
3. So many books and films have been devoted to the idea of science as the ultimate destruction of human civilization. Is it possible that it will contribute to our ultimate enlightenment? (Or a possible utopia?)
4. What are the dangers in our increasingly technological society? How might the advancement of technology contribute to our already unequal society? How is this dealt with in Gattaca? BNW?
5. If genetic engineering or eugenics will ultimately contribute to less suffering and more enjoyment, why wouldn’t we want to proceed wholeheartedly with experimentation?
1. The author Michael Crichton has presented the thesis that science has been so involved in asking, “could we?” that it never stops to ask, “should we?” Should we? Consider that before the Wright brothers “invented” flight, many people believed that humans were not meant to fly, therefore, we shouldn’t’ explore that possibility.
2. How is using genetic engineering for medical purposes (to avoid cancer, let’s say) or physical purposes (choosing hair and eye color) different from the vaccines, organ transplants, plastic surgery, ACT prep courses, etc. that we engage in now?
3. So many books and films have been devoted to the idea of science as the ultimate destruction of human civilization. Is it possible that it will contribute to our ultimate enlightenment? (Or a possible utopia?)
4. What are the dangers in our increasingly technological society? How might the advancement of technology contribute to our already unequal society? How is this dealt with in Gattaca? BNW?
5. If genetic engineering or eugenics will ultimately contribute to less suffering and more enjoyment, why wouldn’t we want to proceed wholeheartedly with experimentation?
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