Brave New World
Semester Two Research Paper
Theme: Aldous Huxley and Prophecies of the 20 th Century
Topics: Brave New World, published in 1931, was a warning and a prophecy of a dystopia to come. To that extent it is a philosophical novel, a novel of ideas, with allusions to many thinkers and social practices that led to some of the most inspiring and, as well, most horrible consequences in the past century. From your 2012 vantage point, look back at the 20 th Century from any of the specific perspectives below, and write a research paper that addresses Huxley’s concerns. There are many directions you can take, and below are some suggestions.
Note: the central purpose of these research papers is to evaluate Huxley’s broader vision in
Brave New World, so all of your research should be pointed toward the following questions:
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To what extent have his prophecies come true or not (matters of fact)
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To what extent have we reason to celebrate or lament the direction of the world in since 1900?
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To what extent have his ideas helped or hurt us, historically, in the past 80 years?
Below are topics and annotations that can lead you to making a decision about what you want to research.
1.
Huxley’s Marxist/Statist Critique a.
Research documents central to Marxist/Statist theory , the rise (and fall) of
Marxism/Socialism in the world. Evaluate Huxley’s critique of
Marxism/Communism; and in that critique note the rise and fall of the Soviet
Union, and the rise of European and American socialism to the present.
2.
Lenin’s Brave New World. Research Leninist theory and how it plays into Huxley’s dystopian vision. Read The State and Revolution, and evaluate it in light of Soviet history.
3.
Huxley’s Consumerist Critique a.
Evaluate the rise of consumerism in American society and the role played by state-controlled business. Research his concerns with the dangers of Madison
Avenue advertising and “subiliminal persuasion” employed by advertisers to get people to consume products. Research the science of advertising as what he calls a subtle totalitarian tool that is one of the enemies of our freedom.
4.
Huxley’s Reproductive Technology Critique a.
Evaluate his warnings specific to reproductive technology in light of modern moral issues such as cloning, in vitro fertilization, surrogate motherhood, sperm

banks, etc. These topics are all in the arena of reproductive ethics. Papers on the ethical dimensions of new reproductive technologies are encouraged.
5.
Huxley’s Moral Critique a.
Review the moral philosophy of Gertude Stein, based on her study of the writings of Otto Weininger. Evaluate, based upon the study of their unusual and complex set of beliefs about race, ethnicity, and sexuality, the sexual revolution that followed. Evaluate the evolution of sexual morality, and whatever links
Stein and Weininger can be traced to it, since the publication of Brave New
World. Also research Huxley’s meetings with and influence from D. H.
Lawrence. b.
Evaluate the development of the chemical contraceptive and its impact on sexual morality.
6.
Huxley’s Critique of Atheism: The Importance of Religion a.
Here you might focus on what might be called “religious repression” in present and past Communist states such as the USSR, China, Cuba, and North Korea.
Are these states, for instance, denying humans a basic human right, or, guiding them in the right direction? His Perennial Philosophy will be a good starting point.
7.
The Early 20 th Century Eugenics Movement and Huxley’s Eugenic Critique a.
Review the writings of Margaret Sanger and their impact on birth control practice in America. For instance, is Planned Parenthood, the brainchild of
Sanger, conducting a subtle form of eugenics? b.
Research George Bernard Shaw’s eugenics writings, and how they got translated into 20 th century social practice and law in the U.S. and Germany. c.
Research The 20 th Century American eugenics movement and its impact on 20 th century history.
8.
Huxley’s Scientific Critique a.
Research B.F. Skinner’s experiments with “Skinner Boxes” and his specific experiments on his daughter, Debbie. b.
Research John Watson’s “Little Albert” experiments. c.
Research the ethical problems related to human cloning. d.
Research the ethical issues involved in the creation of test tube babies.
9.
Huxley’s Drug Critique a.
Research Huxley’s drug experiments and evaluate the impact of his experiments on popular culture and religion. b.
An evaluation of Huxley’s influence on Hippie culture of the 1960’s and its historical impact. c.
A reading of The Doors to Perception is recommended for this paper.
10.
Huxley’s Mass Production Critique a.
Evaluate the impact of mass production on social culture

b.
This paper has two parts, both biographical and philosophical. What did Huxley think of the potential and danger of drugs? Evaluate his conclusions from a historical perspective. c.
Evaluate Huxley’s prophecy that the use of hallucinogenic drugs would lead to an intellectual revolution of “mind expansion.” See the early writings of Richard
Alpert and Timothy Leary. Read The Doors to Perception for starters.
11.
Huxley’s Influence on Modern Art, Literature, and Music
12.
Huxley’s Influence on 60’s “Hippie” Culture. This paper traces the direct influence of
Huxley upon the “movements” of the 1960’s: personal, political, and social.
13.
Huxley’s Political Critique a.
Evaluate his prediction that the world will grow more and more totalitarian, leading eventually to a single World State. Evaluate this thesis in light of the contemporary globalist perspective. This paper might be titled, “Huxley’s Vision of the Dangers of Statism.”
14.
Huxley’s Population Critique a.
Research the growth of world population and the threats to its “carrying capacity.” Address Huxley’s concern that overpopulation will eventually lead us to more totalitarianism. Also research the writings of various population theorists such as Malthus, and evaluate their concerns for the fate of the world.
Read Huxley’s Brave New World Revisited (1958)for a focus on the problem of population.
15.
Huxley’s Religious Philosophy a.
Read The Perennial Philosophy and give an analysis of his philosophy of religion.
Also, trace the influence of this book on 20 th century culture and how he included his drug experiments into his religious philosophy. b.
Research Cardinal Newman’s religious vision as it appears in BNW Chapter 17. c.
Read William James’s The Varieties of Religious Experience and analyze how
Huxley included its insights into BNW.
16.
Shakespeare Allusions in Brave New World a.
Trace the allusions and quotations from Brave New World back to the plays he references. Read or reference the sections from the plays and interpret their use within Huxley’s novel.
17.
Ford and Freud in Brave New World a.
Research Henry Ford’s mass production methods and their impact on American culture of the past hundred years. b.
Research Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytic theory and how it plays into the political and social themes of Brave New World.
There are certain primary texts that can give you help on your task, once you choose your topic. They are:
Brave New World Revisited (see our wiki for the complete etext)

The Doors to Perception (the story of his drug-induced religious vision)
The Perennial Philosophy (in print, Huxley’s religious vision and his debt to Hinduism)
Terms for the Assignment
Writing:
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2000-2500 words, MLA format
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15-20 resources, with at least ten in the Works Cited page
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Buzzword document, with at least one image
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Due Date: Friday, May 6
Classwork
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Each day, during the beginning of the research period, and then at selected times throughout the whole process, member of the class will present one factoid from their research notes to the class. This factoid presentation will become part of the class record of essential information.