Pleasure Will Destroy Society | Brave New World

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Brave New World is one of the most fascinating books in history. It is simultaneously an exploration of the human mind, a critique of Plato and Utilitarianism, and a treatise on how prioritising pleasure may rob us of the very things that matter most to us. And behind it all is one simple yet profound idea: is there something more important than happiness? And if so, what is it?
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00:00 Huxley's Nightmare
02:37 A Brave New Overview
09:30 Alone in Public
15:46 Plato, Class, and Gratitude
22:42 Creativity and Consumption
28:27 Love and Free Love
34:08 Isolation and Shame
39:49 The Necessity of Sacrifice
46:07 The Right to be Unhappy
52:15 The Warnings of Brave New World

[@unsolicitedadvice9198]

LINKS AND CORRECTIONS To learn more than ever from important non-fiction books, join me on Shortform: shortform.com/joseph. You’ll get a 5-day free trial and a discounted annual subscription. One of my favourite books on Shortform is Thinking Fast and Slow Support me on Patreon here: patreon.com/UnsolicitedAdvice701?Link& Sign up to my email list for more philosophy to improve your life: forms.gle/YYfaCaiQw9r6YfkN7

[@througtonsheirs_doctorwhol5914]

It feels like Huxley took "L'ingenu" by Voltaire, and made is dystopian reality version of it !!!

[@ECLECTRIC_EDITS]

Proverbs 9:10-12 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

[@TheYahmez]

Glad to see you challenging our deep seated assumptions. Excellent video 👍

[@Jaybee6428]

☀️ "The living God and the Messiah/Lamb" 🐑 1. I am who I am, I AM sent me 2. I AM the ONE who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of slavery 👴 "12 elders" 👵 3. You must put no other gods before who I AM 4. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or beneath the sea 5 & 6. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I AM jealous and WILL NOT tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parent onto the children, The entire family is affected 7. You must not take who I AM in vain. I will not let those who misuse my name go unpunished 🌈 The seventy 7s - Jobs 2x 14 fold 🌈 8. Thou shalt not kill OR rape 9. Thou shalt not steal 10. Thou shalt not covet for thy neighbor's house 11. Thou shall not commit adultery 12. Thou shalt not bear false witness/Not Lie on others 13. Thou shalt honor thy mother and father 14. Keep your day of rest holy For all who curse, forsake & enslave others ⛓️ Son of Ham? Is that who I am? Tortured by literature, Condensed to a can? Completed by fate's signature It's time to carry out the plan... 12 more plus the 12 from before Call this man crazy if you wish I'll bring 144 more with the same phrases in a new dish 👨‍🍳 Will these outweigh the rest? Or will I chisel away until nothing's left? 🎄 "12 more Elders/24 total" 🎄 Thou SHALT NOT KILL, written AGAIN! unless for food purposes, or last resort self-defense/survival purposes 1 & 2 Thou shalt be kind and respect others 3 Thou shalt NOT ENSLAVE 4 Thou shalt protect the child 5 & 6Thou shalt not consort sneakily in the dark to constrict, ensnare, manipulate into corruption, or cause harm to others even for monetary gain 7 Thou shalt help the elderly and weak and orphans 8 Thou shalt not litter 9 The rich SHALL, in the future meaning FROM THIS POINT ON, realize money is just paper from trees and will begin using their imaginary dendritic monopoly currency to help the hopeless, homeless, starving poor, and begin fixing the infrastructure of THE HUMAN RACE and or all living beings. 10 Thou shalt not exalt thy racial culture to be esteemed higher than any others because of your subjective stupidity 11 & 12 Thou shalt not create torment or cruel punishments on behalf of your judicial, justice system, military, or imaginary religious beliefs ⛲️ Crystal water flowing through 2 trees ⛲️ In the beginning was the Word & the Word was with who I AM, and the Word was who I AM. The same was in the beginning with who I AM. All things were made by who I AM, and without who I AM was not anything made that was made. In who I AM is life, and life is the light of who we ARE, And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. As I was with Yehanan, so I will be with you; I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Be strong and courageous "Love who I AM with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself." I AM love, and all who live in love live in me, and I in them. And as we live in who I AM, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face who I AM with confidence because we live like the lamb here in this world. Such love has no fear because perfect love casts out fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. 🎭 My Throne Room leading to My Face 🎭 I bless those who are poor and realize their need for who I AM, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. I bless those who mourn, for they will be comforted. I bless those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. I bless those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. I bless those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. I bless those whose hearts are pure, for they will see who I AM I bless those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of who I AM. I bless those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. I bless you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way 💀 🕊 |{I}\_💌 I/ \ /_ \_

[@FirstmaninRome]

My favorite book, only rivalled by the heart is a lonely hunter, I think about it everyday, Great video, can't wait to read the comments section. This kind of cements your reputation as the best philosophy channel out there man.

[@thwartificer]

"Without the sense of danger everything is lost, in the name of entertainment we are doomed"

[@nostalji75]

I don't think "in the name of entertainment", but due to greed. Way more destructive than our want for entertainment. Entertainment actually helps learning. Its easier to learn new stuff if its fun and interesting to you.

[@ECLECTRIC_EDITS]

Proverbs 9:10-12 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

[@CoachWhillock]

@@ECLECTRIC_EDITSstop bro, every comment

[@gurpartapbhatti7375]

Pursuit of safety will make us feel more unsafe.

[@AnimosityIncarnate]

This explains why dark souls is so popular, only thing left that's not manipulative to your brain 😂

[@jacquelineraner14]

What most people don't know about Brave New World is that Huxley wrote it because his brother was part of a secret group of elites that tasked themselves with ruling behind the scenes which eventually became the league of nations and then the united nations. Huxley basically was writing down how they were planning to end human conflicts and he was very unsettled by this plan and this novel was the result.

[@ElonMuskrat-my8jy]

Fabian socialists

[@bap3986]

Miller group. Squiggly. Fabian Socialism. Also pick up Eyeless in Gaza

[@ECLECTRIC_EDITS]

Proverbs 9:10-12 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

[@PassionateSpirit88]

True. But did Huxley mention his brother doing that?

[@bryanutility9609]

@@bap3986I read BNW revisited & Island. Have his Perennial Philosophy but haven’t read it, have you?

[@digvijaysketch7936]

How can you post hour long philosphical video essays every three days man😭😭. Your work ethic must be crazy

[@ka3n]

Discipline

[@MultiGoban]

​@@ka3n Work ethic is a subcategory of discipline lil bro

[@madallas_mons]

​@@MultiGobanOther way around, actually. Work ethic is composed of discipline, efficiency, energy and time management, lil bro

[@MultiGoban]

@@madallas_mons You are right! Thanks for correcting me

[@noreverie]

@@MultiGobanNo need to be hostile.

[@madolite]

I think the greatest danger is the imbalance between pleasure, joy and unity. Pleasure without joy and unity is addiction. Joy without pleasure and unity is mania. Unity without joy and pleasure is slavery. Add explicit pain, suffering and loneliness into that equation, and you got yourself a cocktail of death and cosmic horror.

[@graemebuchan8142]

Cool mucker.

[@Bobin10101]

@@graemebuchan8142tf is a mucker?

[@graemebuchan8142]

@@Bobin10101 dude,a bro.

[@26ronitkumar9d6]

As a teenager I cried listening to the isolation and shame part . Man, some philosopher knows where it hits the hardest . I have so many insecurities i feel i am not a normal human being anymore the idea of an other half doesn't exist in my mind because i know no one will complete me . I have a few genetic defects that makes me feel alienated from society like i am a different creature than normal human beings . Sorry for venting in your comments section but i find my own peace in it. Thanku for existing man i really like your channel and i have started to go through all of your videos . Your channel brings peace to me . Thanku so much pls never stop posting videos.

[@CouchDoritos]

There's no such thing as a "normal" human being, I assure you. Do you need another half to feel complete? What happens if you meet them and like all happiness that too fades and you still feel that familiar emptiness inside of you? Many people throughout the ages have tried to understand the source of this dissatisfaction and figure out how to escape it. You have a whole life ahead of you to figure out who you are and what you need to be content. Just remember to stop and soak in the experience of everything now and then, and you'll be okay.

[@MANJYOMETHUNDER111]

You cannot gain self-validation from outside sources.

[@Vindicador01]

Anyway Don't let this distract you from the fact that we incels are right, women have it so easy that it makes me angry.

[@ibrahimayodeji403]

@@Vindicador01lol. Non of this had anything to do with women

[@Vindicador01]

@@ibrahimayodeji403 i know but As an incel it is my duty to spread the truth

[@KonikaTheWhiteChihuahua]

I like to think of true pleasure as salted caramel. Caramel by itself is good as it is, but to really bring out the sweetness you need to add a little bit of salt. Not too much though, or else it’ll become hard to ingest… I want my life to be full of joy, but sprinkle in just a bit of that pain to really bring out the pleasure.

[@theboombody]

Yep. When I went to the gym in my 20's muscle soreness was a wonderful thing. Going back to the gym in my 40's and feeling stuff pop and strain is not quite so wonderful.

[@KonikaTheWhiteChihuahua]

@@theboombody I’m sorry to hear that sir, but I hope you got most out of it!

[@theboombody]

@@KonikaTheWhiteChihuahua Sure did. I loved my 20's. And now I'm loving my 40's. Just mentally now more than physically. Having to learn how to age gracefully.

[@zachvanslyke4341]

@@theboombodyI’m with ya. 52 here. It’s a tough deal to get comfortable going lighter and doing brief workouts, but it’s also more pleasurable in a way, now there is no more pressure and we don’t have to be slaves to the numbers in the gym 🙏

[@O.Lamb3]

Well put. It wasn't mentioned in the video, but the 'salt' in question came in the form of monthly mandatory adrenaline shocks designed to provide "All the tonic effects of murdering Desdemona and being murdered by Othello, without any of the inconveniences."

[@brandonshelp4682]

Pleasure and happiness have never been synonymous. One can certainly experience each without the other.

[@raymond_sycamore]

I have been putting in 10-12 hour days, every day, for the last month and half getting my current house move in ready and my old house finished and ready to sell. I know the "no pleasure, only work" lifestyle. It kills you after a while. I'm also sexless, friendless, I don't drink anymore, and all I do is work. I experience almost no pleasure or joy, only work. I'm dying inside, but nobody cares.

[@Antibailiffbacchus]

Nobody cares, right now. Unfortunately, you must finish the work you have set for yourself, but once that is done, you can set yourself to some measure of relaxation. You can spend time trying to socialize or meet people in and around your community. Just try to do so without expectation of immediate improvement. The road ahead is long, but your position isn't irrecoverable. Good luck Ray, if that is your real name.

[@raymond_sycamore]

@@Antibailiffbacchus I have given up on ever meeting anyone. People don’t like me, I’m not attractive, and I’m not going to try to kowtow to their whims anymore. I spent the first half of my life doing that and how I’m half dead, no more

[@1OddlyOdd]

@@raymond_sycamorewell you make your choices, hope you don’t end up regretting when it’s too late

[@raymond_sycamore]

@@1OddlyOdd I cannot control whether or not other people like me, let alone women. I have chosen as best I can in all aspects, can’t control other people.

[@Laking86er]

Dude, if you're putting in work, making yourself successful, someone will value that. Keep up the grind! Also: fitting in socially sometimes requires you to figure out how parts of your character work within the social contexts you desire. How can you play to those strengths? Social interaction is a negotiation to some degree.

[@alspace2413]

A handsome Englishman teaching you, in the simplest form possible, some of the greatest works of philosophy... I'M IN.

[@througtonsheirs_doctorwhol5914]

It feels like Huxley took "L'ingenu" by Voltaire, and made is dystopian reality version of it !!!

[@ECLECTRIC_EDITS]

Proverbs 9:10-12 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

[@keddy5627]

Me too!!!!!

[@Giacomo_Nerone]

Yah, he hawt 😂

[@Thulite_Orb]

😂 hes handsome but that damn extra alucard expression in the thumbnail gotta go

[@backabeyond]

Semi-determinism is probably more accurate. Life is like a Blues(music) standard. A lot of improv within a general musical structure. People have a lot of room to move, but they are confined by their past, their foundation.

[@AnimosityIncarnate]

Beautifully put ❤

[@ShayPatrickCormacTHEHUNTER]

Simply, Phineas Gage. Youre wrong beyond wrongness.

[@architektura204]

A very wealthy man, clad in an exquisite suit, his face etched with a stern expression, crossed paths with an obviously poor man. The poor man, wearing only one shoe, sported a wide smile. The rich man, his irritation evident, challenged the beggar, "You have no right to be happy! You've lost a shoe!" The beggar, his voice kind, replied, "Oh no, dear sir, I found one!"

[@DS-lk3tx]

Then the poor man went to his box with his shoe and the rich man went to his mansion with 17 concubines. 😂😂😂

[@THEBATZZ]

“Sex is basically the same thing as a high five”. I like that. I’m gonna use that line.

[@Shtickyaight]

Lol

[@melissasherpa]

Pathetic thing to say about the source of life

[@Shtickyaight]

@@melissasherpa God is the source of life though

[@madolite]

​@@Shtickyaight Yes, because God is the father that seeds the mother (holy spirit) with the promise of a son. What, you thought children came from storks? 😛

[@gavinclark6891]

@@Shtickyaightthat's what your mom said last night, preacher

[@Mythki11er]

Props for mentioning Thalidomide babies without feeling the need to show pictures.

[@cheeseburgerinparadise7124]

God, I love this channel. Just the other day I was trying to explain to someone the difference between pleasure and joy. Increasingly, we have some people who think joy is pleasure and it’s not the same. If you focus on pleasure, you focus on hedonism. If you focus on joy, you can, find challenges and create something more out of yourself and your life. You can find meaning or create it. Focus on pleasure is just basically trying to become an addict.

[@MANJYOMETHUNDER111]

You fundamentally misunderstand hedonism, which is about maximizing pleasure. If one wants to maximize pleasure, maximum time to enjoy it must be attained, which means focusing on long-term survival and moderation. Pleasure is a sensation, joy is a feeling, but they both happen in response to the same stimuli.

[@jaxongustafson486]

Debating the definition of a word is useless but here I go. My thesis is "pleasure" is a subcatagory of "joy". Joy comes from the word enjoy. You can enjoy taking pleasure. Such as enjoying eating ice cream(pleasure). But enjoying has a wider scope as you can enjoy the time after a really hard run even though there was no pleasure involved but just relief and satisfaction from pushing yourself. Another example is you might enjoy beating up a bully but no one says that there was pleasure is that. So "joy" can refer to having pleasure, satisfaction, or relief. I think we agree with this because you expressed the topic of joy including "challenges and create something more out of yourself." You can also enjoy taking pleasure in something so in that since they are similar.

[@MANJYOMETHUNDER111]

@jaxongustafson486 the refining of language is the refining of ideas

[@FabbrizioPlays]

Anyone who has ever needed to grieve and been unable, knows it is a more horrible feeling than grief itself by far. To feel nothing, when you know you should be feeling something, is hell itself.

[@IisLasagna]

Unsolicited Advice gives me more solicited advice than my parents Edit: this is the top comment??? Damn wth

[@Upholstered_]

His name is joe

[@IisLasagna]

@@Upholstered_ joe mama- Ok stfu it was right there, I don't make jokes for people to laugh at, I make them for the aliens coming soon in this big theatre we've affectionally nicknamed 'Earth', or 'our home', or 'Mother Nature'

[@ECLECTRIC_EDITS]

Proverbs 9:10-12 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

[@Agro50]

yea lol

[@Agro50]

@@IisLasagna yo chill be polite

[@TheSpicyLeg]

Out of the dystopian novels I’ve read, Brave New World scares me more than any other. For a long time, I couldn’t figure out why, then it hit me. Nothing enslaves a man as completely as his own desires. You would want the chemical bliss of soma, and that is terrifying.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Congrats on 200k!! So well deserved. What an insanely cool accomplishment.

[@unsolicitedadvice9198]

Thank you! That is really kind! Looking forward to our chat!

[@tobaccoffee]

Reading about the different classes of people like Alpha and Delta in the middle of the pandemic feels rather unnerving. Soma also reminds me of doomscrolling on social media.

[@AcousticFatality]

"Do we instead pretend that we're much freer than we actually are", are words I said to myself yesterday as I had to pay for my tags for my car yesterday. The government: YOU WANT TO DRIVE THIS CAR?? YOU HAVE TO PAY US FIRST! Me: But it's my car...

[@Mpel3]

Yeah and without a tag you can drive it on your land... that you paid off but still pay the government rent on...

[@unknown4957]

We own nothing. Buy a house now you own it, actually you have to pay property taxes or the government can take it. Have a certain credit score, have fun buying anything cause the government isn’t going to give it to you. We live in this paradigm of a false sense of freedom. Even our first amendment is debacle these days.

[@aurograce2983]

​@@Mpel3but you can only park it on pavers or cement

[@cheeseburgerinparadise7124]

What I love about your channel is not only the depth of your knowledge, but also just the way you discuss things. Articulate and pointed, but also eloquent without being overblown. Very well done. You have a very promising future man.

[@Alan-mq9om]

Now comes the question of individuality taking over people and riding the world of community. There seems to be less and less healthy communities and there is more and more capitalistic individualism.

[@doid4354]

Extremes will never bring us balance. Being isolated to never have awareness of connection to others, and to think you are more important than anyone else is damaging. But being constantly around others and losing yourself for the sake of fitting in is also damaging.

[@blacalmontie]

This video essay has given me a different path of reflection on how to solve a current problem in my life. You are brilliant. We need more people like you asking questions and providing philosophical analysis. You have earned a patron. I look forward to seeing more of your work!

[@Ana_MF]

I like how Kafka puts it in very simple words saying that the meaning of life is that it stops. How could we appreciate life without death? How could we know the real value of our moments of joy and hapiness without having experienced suffering? In a world with pleasure without pain, pleasure is nothing but a meaningless experience. Yet, it's such a tempting idea considering how unbearable sometimes suffering can get...That's what makes this novel way more disturbing than 1984 for me.That and the ending of poor John..He had no place with the savages and was treated like some circus freak in the civilized world. Apparently, ending his life was all he had left. Thanks for making almost an hour video and even adding subs. Must be a lot of work.

[@VBoo459]

Very beautifully and simply put. I haven’t read them book but now I’ve added it to my list. It seems incredibly intriguing and sad

[@mp-xs7th]

So glad to see 200k....YOU ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT AND MILLIONS TIMES MORE.. So many people needed someone like you

[@hinnakoto]

your delivery is so stimulating and yet calming at the same time, much like philosophy itself! keep it up, the way you analyze and communicate these works is always surprising and full of substance

[@geekexmachina]

One of my favourite versions of this novel is “Logans Run” especially the film adaptation this also has an entire population entirely addicted to pleasure but with the catch of having very short lifespan (shorter in the books). It is often said that we live more in a Philip K Dick world than a Huxley or orwellian world. According to many interviews Dick was quite certain of this before his death. Though personally i like terry pratchetts quote “ give a man jam today and he will eat it. But the promise of Jam tomorrow will keep them going forever.”

[@FEiSTYFEVER]

I always preferred this quote by Orson Scott Card "If pigs could vote, the man with the slop bucket would be voted swineherd everytime, no matter how much slaughtering he did on the side."

[@mikexhotmail]

“Logans Run” is really awesome as long as there is no outside world.

[@montanajace]

Algorithm is working good today! Incredible analysis and thought experiment. I’m in between these two exact perspectives - either picking a single road and committing to its ups and downs, or staying in easy, numb mediocrity. Hard to pick a lane when you don’t feel like anything is inherently meaningful. Thanks for sharing!

[@joeketa6352]

This is the best synopsis and analysis of Brave New World I've ever come across. Ive not seen your other videos, but I'm subscibing based on stength of this video alone.

[@gabrielaloisi]

I love your channel, as a 14yo it's an easy way to understand philosophy (and learning english because I'm Italian).

[@DynastyInferno]

Just wanted to thank you for taking the time to explain this literary artwork. I have never gotten around to reading it and this was a perfect way to engage me in the ideas so I can confidently purchase a copy myself after all these years. Thank you again, this is a great way to give these concepts to scrollers on KZbin like myself who have had their curiosity for books dulled by the very mechanisms of pleasure you describe.

[@patriciarist856]

Thank you , this is among my favourite books ever ! My favourite character is Bernard Marx because of his struggle to choose between comfort and status, and individuality. His struggle really made me empathize with him.

[@inshalkhan3138]

truly it was you because of which I feel in love with philosophy

[@unsolicitedadvice9198]

Oh wow! That is probably the highest compliment I could receive! Thank you

[@ElonMuskrat-my8jy]

Look up Jay Dyer and you'll love it more.

[@ECLECTRIC_EDITS]

Proverbs 9:10-12 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

[@gravitheist5431]

@@ECLECTRIC_EDITS What does that mean ?

[@ECLECTRIC_EDITS]

@@gravitheist5431 It means when you realize after you die Jesus will judge you, you suddenly start yaking your life seriously.

[@davidcollins2648]

You, sir, are asking the right questions. Dare I say you have a genius and ability you are properly applying. Congratulations and carry on. Your gifts of language and precision are inspiring.

[@PokemeisterSarabicum]

short king will never go out of business

[@Alexbfd94]

Your insights and your drawing of parallels with other philosophers are remarkable. Another spectacular video!

[@damnitseven]

Man I just love how you put what you've read into words people can understand. It is truly an art. When I read, I feel like I understand everything, but when someone asks me to explain it I'm lost. Keep going mate. I'll keep learning from you as much as I can.

[@ECLECTRIC_EDITS]

Proverbs 9:10-12 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

[@damnitseven]

@@ECLECTRIC_EDITS man stfu christianity is so weak and backward like damn

[@Naman_K2]

Were you not able to put what you understood or did you never truly actually understood it

[@damnitseven]

@@Naman_K2 Good question. Giving it further thought, it probably is a combination of both. I shall re-read the works.

[@apachekafka773]

​@Naman_K2 The ability to explain is an art and a gift in itself. Forget that some people said "If you can't explain it to a 10 year old, then you don't understand it yourself ". I find that statement to be completely false and untrue. The ability to articulate one's thought is a special gift not everyone can. Those that write books or give speeches are not the smartest in thought or ideas they are just blessed with articulation.

[@mbmurphy777]

Listening to this makes me think that it’s perhaps a good psychological metaphor for The Fall in the Abrahamic religions. Maybe eating from the tree of knowledge is what unlocks individualism and breaks the Edenic blissful state. This is required to give humanity meaning, but at the cost of everlasting ignorant bliss. Just a thought.

[@swagg_37]

honestly this might be one of your best videos yet. i was in deep thinking the whole time. thank you

[@midnight_77]

I haven't read Brave New World and didn't know much about it... but this is genuinely one of the best videos I've ever watched. This man managed to bring up so much interesting philosophy and thought from all throughout history in just short of a single hour. Really great watch. For the eudaimonia, of course. Not the hedonistic pleasure.

[@martijnbrulezz]

Fantastic video once again - you have created some openings in my thinking and view of life where new ideas are forming

[@Adam-326]

0:04 “…I want mommy, I want milk, I want to be held, I want to be comforted, and if you do not give me all these things immediately, I will ruin your life…”

[@paloim]

Truly, someone must stop Dennis Prager and his mommy milk lust, lest the world fall to ~10 minute videos about politics with greatly varying levels of quality

[@ECLECTRIC_EDITS]

Proverbs 9:10-12 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

[@No1uNo123]

So happy I found this channel. I love your videos and the effort you put into them. You spark my love for books and philosophy that it is changing my life for the better. Thank you so much. :)

[@brianhumphrey7415]

The implications of Huxley's novel once fully illuminated is almost paralyzing and yet liberating. To know the things beyond control influences us in ways we simply cannot imagine. I love your critiques!!!

[@gokhantoksoy2826]

Subtitles are perfect. Loved it. Game changer for us whose mother tongue is not English.

[@GabrielPrates-pg1fv]

That´s one of the few videos which i have actually meant the "like button". Absolutely brilliant and insightful. Thanks for that!

[@clarayi1840]

Joseph, your breakdown of BNW is fantastic. Keep it up, you’re doing great work.

[@soothingandrelaxingmusic489]

I appreciate you putting subtitles on your own may your channel grow and you continue to prosper

[@On3lasttim3]

Short King is still relevant! Love your videos, your analysis is always so thorough and thoughtfully done, congrats on 200k!!

[@Diablo_Sauce__]

I’ve had some head injuries in my life and because of that my brain works slower then it used to and it’s hard to be a “good philosopher” if you will but your videos really help me kickstart my thinking and I appreciate it, thank you

[@biancagonz-o]

what it means to sacrifice ... something i always struggle with, moving between my modes of hedonism and wanting to be of service towards the greater good. thanks for bringing these profound concepts into light as succulently as you did.

[@normalguy4548]

This channel is so great because you intersect my interest in philosophy with my literary tastes in a way that is seamless. A question: Have you read The Felt Meanings of the World: A Metaphysics of Feeling by Quentin Smith? It’s a book that tries to uncover meaning in the world through felt meanings after the (claimed, by the author) failure of traditional rationalist metaphysics to try to find meaning. I think that book is in line with the goal of this channel in this regard.

[@mychannel-lp9iq]

Just discovered your channel a couple of days ago and I have struck gold!

[@freezeblizz]

Wow, your channel has been a blessing for me. You never cease to amaze. Very articulate and smart way of speaking and storytelling. I could definitely learn a lot from you.

[@mylesanthony8672]

this was brilliant, its easy to see that you enjoy making these, and I enjoyed watching, thank you for channelling these challenging ideas into my ear holes --- and yes short king is likely still permissible

[@Naveg345]

Wow ! huxley was an complete genius ! I see how familiar the world now is to the huxley tale Its weird that we live in an more new world a like as huxley

[@Horsefaire]

True!

[@elisal98800]

I got this book 7 years ago from my younger cousin, she found it funny, the thing I find funny is she read it, understood what it is about, but she is the living example of everything described there and hasn't learned anything from it. We no longer talk for obvious reasons. Every time she came to me for advice she did not want to get advice but attention and a reaction. She has done so many stupid things, and at that time I couldn't tell anyone about it without being judged for wanting to be real to her for once rather than sugar-coating in fear of losing her. What a world, what a sh*t show this world and culture is.

[@sotoskount]

Thank God about your video. I know about the book, the plot and the narratives but I haven't read it. After all your book reviews, this was a must, and despite not being awaited, your video was a pleasant surprise. Keep going my friend!

[@timmah941]

Thank you for the free hour, Joe. I just subscribed. I agree with most of your review. I first read BNW at age 56 ten years ago; bltn. Your talk here is inspiring. Well done! I look forward to your others reviews.

[@jacobwiren8142]

The fundamental problem with the Brave New World is that soma is the weak link. The moment the supply of soma is disrupted the entire society collapses when people are forced to think again. And make no mistake, the supply WILL be disrupted eventually. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, or in a hundred years, but it WILL happen because the society itself is stagnating. Without any form of suffering the people will slowly forget why they do the thing they do until eventually someone forgets to maintain the supply of vital resources.

[@timothyvonvictory7105]

Or until the "savage settlements" conquer their asses. Great take

[@fuiscklam4087]

The other thing is that Soma isn't actually doing its purpose. If you are able to suffer under its influence, that the effect is far too weak to serve its purpose. A true Soma would erase not only your surface troubles, but the deepest ones - all your insecurities, all your desire for meaning, all strive for art, all the need for connection or acceptance. True Soma would not allow ANY kind of suffering under its influence.

[@theflamingone8729]

We're already seeing vital parts of our society not only neglected, but straight out attacked, because people have forgotten what role those parts play.

[@timothyvonvictory7105]

@@theflamingone8729 so be it! What is weak must be cleared in order to make wat for that which is noble and strong

[@MANJYOMETHUNDER111]

Huxley was a pseudo-intellectual who believed chewing gum was making people stupid because it made people resemble cows chewing cud. It doesn't surprise me that his worldview doesn't hold up under scrutiny.

[@CrustaceousB]

Algorithm boost 2: Dystopian Boogaloo 💪

[@jaylucas8352]

Breaking reference nice

[@Diggles67]

I studied this novel forty years ago (along with Orwell’s 1984) for Senior English. (I literally read 1984 in 1984.) Great to get a refresher after so many years. It all came flooding back.

[@Elephantshew]

I love this. Thank you for sharing these in-depth stories of your perspective.

[@Thiago_Alves_Souza]

George Orwell and his professor, Aldous Huxley would be discussing which one of their novels would become reality; Me in the future "all of them".

[@chewxieyang4677]

And it would still not be enough to describe what is to come for humanity. Let's just say, humanity MUST go to hell at least once.

[@autosofiaciente]

I think the pleasure in brave new world, is more confort / numbness / entertainment.. a sort of absence of pain. true pleasure requires deep emotions, real connection with others and the freedom to think/create. The opposite of pain is not pleasure, its numbness.

[@brianadlich4406]

I agree. I also don’t think the worlds current predicament is caused by too much pleasure. I would say too much work if anything. Like you mentioned the pleasure is just brief escapes due to the fact there is not enough time to experience pleasure. What you call numbness I call escapism.

[@doid4354]

@@brianadlich4406I believe many people these days are following pleasure without thinking about it. Hookup culture for example, encourages people to be intimate with one another and move on to the next. People are valuing polyamory more and starting to call monogamy “restrictive.” I believe you don’t have real love unless you sacrifice, and committing to one partner is sacrificing your other choices. What kind of love do you have if you can walk away whenever you want to find someone new?

[@brianadlich4406]

see the OPs definition of pleasure. Hook up culture is born out of an act of escapism not as an act of pleasure. It’s related to the purely transactional nature of our society born of the commodification of our time labor and all else. Everything everyone does outside of work could be considered pleasure and as such make the point of this video rather ignorant (which it is imo) if that were the case. Hook up culture seeks to replace the absence of pleasure one would receive in a deeper more sensual connected relationship.

[@doid4354]

@@brianadlich4406 Escapism is literally the most extreme form of pleasure. You are doing what makes you feel good in order to escape reality. Hook up culture is the product of escapism, aka what happens when pleasure is the only focus instead of meaningful connection.

[@stevemotoq1411]

Your new Found hand expressions makes your video's very good, odd, easier to remember the points you make. Excelent😮

[@tannthomp]

I JUST finished BNW and JUST discovered your channel. Great stuff man

[@charms4242]

this video is amazing, Ive been craving this type of content for years!

[@SabrinaFair58]

We are literally living this

[@kevinsayes]

Setting as a character is something I haven’t really ever thought about, but it seems obvious now haha. Thanks man

[@militustoica]

This is an excellent reminder to make sure this book is on my shelf at all times.

[@SaintOli]

Already know it's gonna be a cracker. Just wondered if you have thought of tackling Spinoza? His pantheistic outlook on the world is interesting to me even as an athiest, and I reckon you are well equipped to tackle it. I feel like your analytical background would clash wondrously with his monistic metaphysical view. Congratulations on 200k!

[@jeffreykeith6494]

Pain has always been humanities greatest teacher. We desire to remove pain. God help us if we ever do.

[@doid4354]

A life isn’t a life without pain.

[@StinkendeAugen]

​@@doid4354 I agree I even would go as far as to say pain is beauty in a sense

[@gurpartapbhatti7375]

Thanks brother. This is why I loved all my philosophy classes in college ❤

[@objectreborn.artsewing]

Joseph-- I haven't watched all of your videos, and I'm only halfway through this one. But it is striking to me how many different large swath concepts you're skilfully converging. You have reached a new stage of consilience in your learning and in your ability to synthesize conceptual information and then speak about it coherently. You have transcended your former self. I'm glad to be here with you. Cheers 🩵✌️

[@objectreborn.artsewing]

Also yes, short king is in use and should keep being in use to counter toxic masculinity... it also gives me a little flutter in particular because I'm a trans guy, and many of us are, in fact, short kings 😆

[@ECLECTRIC_EDITS]

Proverbs 9:10-12 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you.

[@chito127]

The agreement of two or more inductions drawn from different sets of data; concurrence. (consilience)

[@useth3forceforgood]

19:20 Underrated comment 😄 Excellent analysis, as always.

[@RCSVirginia]

If pleasure will destroy society, I am very sure that there are quite a few young ladies who will be happy to enthusiastically get up-close-and-personal with the host of Unsolicited Advice to advance that societal destruction.

[@doid4354]

P*rn is one of the driving factors of societal collapse.

[@JennyThePhilosopher]

I recently reread BNW, but I never recognized the parallels to the social strata in Plato's Republic. Thank you for this new insight!

[@abrahamweiss7073]

So incredibly articulate! I'm amazed! Thank you for your work!

[@walle5949]

Algorithm boost

[@unsolicitedadvice9198]

Much appreciated!

[@simonus5039]

'nother one

[@JAMESLEVEE]

Remember - Huxley's dating system was B.F. and A.F. - Before Ford and After Ford. Henry Ford created the assembly line.

[@nataliamarin5440]

Wow this video was amazing!! So well articulated and clearly expressed

[@ArthurVerron]

Love the content! :) Thanks for great work!

[@Aldinonexilus]

The ability to problem solve is both our salvation and our damnation. When there are no more problems to solve, we find problems or create them ourselves, whether they be great or small.

[@ONETimothy2.12-14]

As a staunch conservative and traditionalist I've come to the painful conclusion that profits cause this. Corporations are no longer producing things that are of great benefit to mankind but instead modifying existing products to keep charging for new products we don't need and the effects have been disastrous on the human psyche and consciousness.

[@fiftyforty9]

No, I believe we will simply evolve and be capable of living when there is no problems 👍

[@ONETimothy2.12-14]

@@fiftyforty9 Very wrong. So wrong on all accounts

[@Aldinonexilus]

@@ONETimothy2.12-14 I think he's trolling. Or he's unfortunately not very intelligent. 😬

[@fiftyforty9]

@@Aldinonexilus blud putting greek statue on your pfp doesn't give you any IQ points, if that's what u were hoping for👍

[@malachiteofmethuselah9713]

Have you ever wondered if the reason our world looks so much like 1984 or Brave New World is, by and large, because the common reading lists are made of examples of the kind of dystopia we do not want, rather than spending our formative academic years studying examples of utopia?

[@michi_hung]

A very interesting notion

[@normanclatcher]

Hi. Ridiculous idea; these dystopias aren't predictive because we're all reading them to bring them about (we're not), but are _instead_ predictive because of the human condition.

[@NemisCassander]

@@normanclatcher I tend to agree with this. @malachiteofmethuselah9713 I think you are starting with an implicit assumption that utopia is possible.

[@AC-ri2ph]

Yes, I personally relate. My phone has become such a crutch in escapism and I have nobody to truly keep me in check, my phone addiction has led to me being homeless and not taking care of myself and no working towards a better life bc the dopamine my phone gives me keeps me distracted enough to not truly care about these things until I'm in it. It's truly the worst. Putting my phone down g8ves me withdrawal anxiety like an addict.

[@iubaydullayeva]

39:54 After reading LOTR, I started reflecting on the significance of having something worth sacrificing everything for to lead a meaningful life. I struggled to fully grasp this concept until I watched your explanation. Now, it all makes much more sense. Thank you!

[@daphne4983]

Meanwhile I'm on my bed eating crisps.

[@user-gw4oz1rk3i]

Even the forunder of utilitarianisim divided pleasure into “lower” and “upper” pleasure! “Lower” pleasure being the bodily pleasures, like sex and good food (and probably includes soma!) and “upper” pleasure is the plaesures derived from, aprreciating art, and other sich things! I Think i have embraced this division, and added sadistic pleasure, pleasure derived from the pain and suffering of others, as lower than bodily pleasure. And the joy of giving, of seeing or making others happy, as the highest form of pleasure! The lower forms of pleasure are better than pain and suffering, but worse than the higher forms!

[@Moonflower-gn3xd]

Damn dude, you make philosophy so interesting, engaging, and easy to understand. You deserve way more views 💚

[@beaniehats__]

I've been experiencing that sort of statement myself. I try to drown myself in as much satisfaction as possible that everything starts to become mundane and "boring", it also kinda ruins your mental state at some point and you begin thinking negative thoughts.

[@soonny002]

Most people would rather be special than to be happy. In fact, to be special is to be happy. This, I believe, stems from our most basic choice being taken from us, the choice to be born. Nobody ever consents to being born. This choice was made by another man and woman who chose to have intercourse for reasons entirely of their own. The reason may be noble or flippant, but necessarily selfish and exckusionary of the child. Thus every child is born with a burning existential question, why? Why have you brought me into this world? Feeling special guards against the existential angst of being born without consent, especially when the world is such a cruel place.

[@mikexhotmail]

The society of the spectacle.

[@theninjaofthehiddenmeme7202]

Matthew 16:24-26, Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

[@VBoo459]

Ouffff. The Word always remain true

[@derekjordangregg7468]

Kinda random

[@theninjaofthehiddenmeme7202]

@@derekjordangregg7468 it’s the rebuttal to our current age.

[@nurseecho1423]

Thank you for being another mind to help contemplate these concepts with any addition of depth.

[@kj5250]

The subtitles are great thankyou and great video!!

[@Th3BigBoy]

I always preferred Fahrenheit 451 to brave new world. Everybody looks down on Ray Bradbury but the man was able to previse so many things.

[@ChelleMEis]

Happening before our eyes.

[@afaha2214]

I think any time you have polarized reaction such as this video it’s indicative of a self awareness lacking society on both sides. Pleasure isn’t a sin and shutting it completely out won’t help you in the long run and neither is making pleasure your object of attachment and reverence. What we need is balance and always be aware of what you are watching and be wary of those that try to control your mind

[@dutch9098]

Yes short king is still revelant and has been for a few years used now and then lol. Thank you for the great video I have trouble focusing on homework and somehow these youtube video essays help me focus more.