Spear, telescope, computer. Tool-using culture, technocracy, technopoly. Such is the evolution of technologies in society and their corresponding technological cultures as detailed by Neil Postman in his Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. In Postman’s book, the author describes the nature and characteristics of technopolies, such as exists in Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.
Technocracies are characterized as societies “only loosely controlled by social custom and religious tradition and driven by the impulse to invent.” Thus in a technocracy, both traditional customs and tradition coexist with advancing technology. The two experience some friction as shown by the statement of 19-century America: “one can hear the groans of religion in crisis, of mythologies under attack, of a politics and education in confusion, but the groans are not yet death throes.”
A technopoly, on the other hand, is “totalitarian technocracy.” As Frederick W. Taylor, originator of scientific management, believed, “society is best served when human beings are placed at the disposal of their techniques and technology.” Taylor advocated economic efficiency, regardless of the effect on humans. He believed that workers should be relieved of any responsibility to think at all.
Such is the case in Huxley’s novel. The technopoly present in Brave New World champions Taylor’s theory of scientific management in which efficiency is emphasized and human emotion subdued. In Huxley’s totalitarian technopoly, humans are created and used to serve technology. Human emotion is dealt with through careful conditioning, so the inhabitants of the brave new world believe they are happy and thus promote technological efficiency. For example, the character Lenina responds to Bernard’s desire to be happy in his own way, “I don’t know what you mean. I am free. Free to have the most wonderful time. Everybody’s happy nowadays.” As such, efficiency is emphasized in Brave New World. Technological advances are promoted and the ideals of a technopoly, exemplified.
