Has anyone read that book by Aldus Huxley? We had to read it in my English IV class in high school. I logged into AOL today to find this story as one of the top ones at the moment.
Go ahead and read it, I'll wait.
Now, for those too lazy to click on the link and read it, it basically says scientists are developing a pill that will help dull memories and make them less painful after traumatic incidents.
As for the book referral, let me explain. This book is about a world far advanced from the one we now know. People are not allowed to have children. Instead, they are made in a production line, and hilariously enough, the new religion is the worship of Ford--the guy that created the first assembly line to make cars and trucks.
Now listen closely, this next part explains something important to one side of an argument I have on this. And make no mistake, I will be arguing both sides of this pill, as I often take no side on things such as this.
There's a theme in this novel that describes how people are put on a drug to make them happy all the time, and they are required to take this drug. Okay, it's been a few years, so maybe they aren't required to take it, but they do so all the time anyway? Either way, I know that is the way this futuristic government likes it. Now, back in high school I was pretty obligated to side against this pill in an essay, one of many I was required to write on for this novel.
Basically, the idea was that if you're happy all the time, you can't learn to appreciate that happiness. The happy moments are dulled by the fact that there are no sad moments to make you grateful for the times you are happy. In effect, you are killing all emotion by killing one.
I can sort of see this point of view in relation to this new pill, which is dimming tragedy, and therefore sadness.
On the other hand, we have medications now that do so to a lesser degree, and we can do things that have the capacity to smother all kinds of illness that could otherwise be terminal, but I don't see anything wrong in that. The way it's described in the article, this pill is supposed to calm the effects of post-traumatic stress, which is, as it seems, a disease like any other, especially when described in medical terms.
Thoughts, anyone?
-Ave
4 comments:
First, I think eliminating the memories entirely is too dangerous. Knowledge should never be destroyed.
But I think a drug that would dull the pain of such memories would be good, in the short term. I think if a person were given something like that following a traumatic event it would help them cope in the long term, which would make Post Traumatic Stress less likely.
Dulling the pain, in the short term, is a good idea if it's going to be used in conjunction with other treatment. It's like giving a person with a compound fracture painkillers so that the bone can be set and begin to heal. But only treating the pain does nothing about the problem.
The problem itself is the memory, but I don't think eliminating it is the answer. Instead, we should give people the help they need to cope, whether it be someone to talk to, a shoulder to cry on, or some how allowing them to take action.
In the case of the man in the story, I think the best thing that could have been done for him would have been to let him search for his family. It was not knowing and being helpless that was causing him to lose his mind. At least that's how I interpret it.
i read the book in high school, because i had to. after i read it one time i read it another 5 or 6 times, just because i liked it that much. amazing how science is catching up to science fiction. the stuff these physicists, and chemists and chemical engineers are working on is mind boggling. what i learned is math is the secret of the gods and the universe.
as for the subject.....frightening. while i don't believe in a "god", i also don't believe in playing "god." i'm not against western style of medicine for life or death situations, such as heart transplants. i am against people popping pills to treat mild to non-existant conditions. i don't believe in taking any medications other than those needed to stay alive, such as insulin for diabetics, or the like. so i'm totally against it. hard times help people deal with life, and life is hard and cruel. the moment we forget that...or have it erased...we are all in big trouble. just my opinion of course...and i am hard headed and opinionated.:)
j.h.
Well said, both of you. I agree and I agree. lol
Avril
hhhmmm....there is something about that whole memory erasing thing that doesnt settle too realistically with me.
Makes me think we will all be turned into medicated robots.
:O
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