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ANSWERS TO P.A ASSIGNMENT 1. The Author's Philosophical Foundation The author of Brave New World, Aldous Huxley, bases the book on the philosophical thought of Utilitarianism. This is the ethical theory that the best action is the one that maximizes utility, usually defined as maximizing happiness and well-being for the greatest number of people. The World State operates on the principle of ensuring societal stability and collective happiness, even at the cost of individual freedom, truth, and genuine human experience. Examples from the book include: . . . This eliminates discontent and rebellion, contributing to the overall stability and happiness of the collective. The suppression of art, religion, and family, as these things can lead to strong emotions, individualism, and instability. The World State prioritizes the greatest good (societal stability) by eliminating potential sources of conflict and unhappiness. 2. Aligned Philosopher The philosopher most closely aligned with the philosophical current depicted in Brave New World is Jeremy Bentham. Bentham is considered a founder of modern utilitarianism, which seeks to achieve the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. His ideas on the "greatest happiness principle" and the use of a "felicific calculus" to measure pleasure and pain are reflected in the World State's systematic, scientific approach to engineering a perpetually content society. 3. Critique of Metaphysical Concepts Brave New World uses metaphysical concepts like truth, reality, and human nature, but it presents a deliberately warped and superficial understanding of them. The book's portrayal of these concepts is a critique rather than an endorsement. Truth and Reality: In the World State, truth is what the Controllers decree it to be. The objective, external reality is suppressed in favor of a manufactured, convenient one. The use of soma, conditioning, and propaganda creates a subjective, happy "reality" for the masses, disconnected from genuine experience. The World State's understanding is incorrect because it treats truth as a malleable tool for social control rather than a fundamental aspect.

[Audio] Today, we will be discussing the book 'zes utility for the greatest good, even at the expense of individual freedom, truth, and genuine human experience. The World State prioritizes societal stability and happiness, and suppresses potential sources of conflict and unhappiness. Our second slide focuses on the philosopher most aligned with the utilitarian principles of the World State, Jeremy Bentham. He believed in achieving the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people through a scientific approach to creating a content society. Moving on to our third slide, the book critiques metaphysical concepts by deliberately presenting a warped and superficial understanding of truth, reality, and human nature as tools for social control. This is not an endorsement of these concepts, but rather a criticism of their misuse in pursuit of stability. Next, we will discuss the book's view of reality and human nature. The World State believes that human nature is a problem that must be solved through scientific engineering. However, this view denies the inherent complexity, depth, and need for meaning in human existence. The character of John the Savage serves to highlight the importance of things the World State has eliminated, such as love, art, and genuine struggle. Finally, we will analyze the book's view of human life through Aristotle's Four Causes. The material cause of a human being is viewed as a biological product, mass-produced and conditioned in bottles, rather than through natural procreation. The formal cause is the society's rigid caste system, the efficient cause is the World State's conditioning and brainwashing, and the final cause is the pursuit of pleasure and happiness at the cost of sacrificing individual freedom and genuine human experience..

[Audio] In our previous presentation, we discussed the concept of utility for the greater good and its significance in the World State's society. Today, we will focus on the book's critique of metaphysical concepts and their portrayal in our current society. As we move to the third slide, we will explore the similarities between the book's themes and their reflection in Kenya. Specifically, we will discuss consumerism, escapism, social stratification, and the transcendentals of truth, goodness, and beauty. The World State's emphasis on consumption for social stability can be seen in the global consumer culture present in Kenya, with constant exposure to advertisements and social media persuading us to constantly buy new products. Similarly, the use of escapism in the book through soma can be compared to the prevalence of social media, binge-watching, and substance use in our society. Moving on, although not as extreme as the caste system in Brave New World, Kenya also has significant socio-economic divisions, with certain opportunities and institutions being limited to those from a particular social or financial background. The transcendentals of truth, goodness, and beauty in the book are subverted and used as a means of social control, which can also be seen in our society through the manipulation of truth by the media and those in power, the perception of goodness as weakness, and the association of beauty with material possessions. These parallels between the book and our society show that its critique of metaphysical concepts is not fictitious, but rather a reflection of our modern world. As we continue our discussion, it is important to critically examine and question our societal norms and the potential influence of pursuing utility for the greater good. I look forward to our further discussion on the topic..

[Audio] We have reached the final slide of our presentation. We will be discussing the World State's prioritization of societal stability and happiness. This utopian society values the greater good over individual freedom, truth, and genuine human experience. The World State suppresses potential sources of conflict and unhappiness in order to maintain a content and stable society. Moving on, the philosopher most closely aligned with the World State's utilitarian principles is Jeremy Bentham. He believed in using a scientific approach to engineer a content society and achieve the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. The World State implements this approach in their control of the population and maintenance of stability. Furthermore, the book also presents a criticism of metaphysical concepts such as truth, reality, and human nature. These concepts are deliberately distorted and simplified in order to be used as tools for social control. This calls into question the manipulation of these concepts for the sake of maintaining control over the population. Lastly, the use of soma in the World State serves as a metaphor for our modern society. Our constant scrolling on social media, binge-watching shows, and other forms of passive entertainment serve as temporary distractions that provide a quick dopamine rush. This highlights the importance of seeking genuine connections and purpose in order to find true fulfillment, rather than escaping reality and avoiding the harsh truths of our society. In conclusion, our presentation has explored the World State's prioritization of societal stability and happiness, along with the use of utilitarian principles to maintain control over the population. It also emphasizes the importance of questioning and critiquing the manipulation of metaphysical concepts in society. This serves as a reminder to seek genuine connections and purpose, rather than falling into the trap of temporary distractions and avoiding reality. We hope you have gained a deeper understanding of the themes and concepts presented. Thank you for joining us in this discussion. Have a great day..