Oh, Utopias. In them, it really can be all sunshine and rainbows. In the case of Aldous Huxley’s utopian novel Island, sunshine and rainbows are likely, given the fact that it takes place on a fictional Pacific island (in the 1960s). But sunshine and rainbows are less important to this utopia than culture and policy.
In his preface to Brave New World, Huxley discussed a potential alternative ending to his classic novel. In this alternative ending, a character would have the option of moving to a community who had used technology wisely and prioritized the well-being of its people. The community’s actions would be guided by what Huxley called “a kind of Higher Utilitarianism.” In different actions they took, they would ask themselves the following question:
How will this thought or action contribute to, or interfere with, the achievement, by me and the greatest possible number of other individuals, of man’s final end?
Aldous Huxley
This Higher Utilitarianism emphasizes that people should live with, to state it succinctly, the knowledge of unity. We could call it Tao, Non-Dualism, Logos, or something else. Ultimately, the important thing is not the name, but the recognition that all things are separate only in name.
This principle, along with prioritizing freedom and happiness, guides the policies and customs of the fictional utopian island Huxley named Pala. As Huxley said in this interview, there are an endless amount of factors involved in constructing a utopia. Consequently, throughout the novel, the characters speak of many different ways that Pala helps their citizens thrive.
Not Two
The aim of Higher Utilitarianism in Pala is often referred to as “Not-two.” The term is simply a more direct translation of what is frequently called non-dualism.
The key to understanding non-dualism is to see the interdependence of opposites. The easiest way to do this is to start with very basic perception. For example, the directions of up and down are completely interdependent. Without down, we wouldn’t understand up, and vice versa. We also see this interdependence with light and darkness, sound and silence, and anything else.
The recognition of non-dualism is most important to Pala when considering the interdependence of individual and environment and good and evil.
If we know we’re inseparable from our environment, we’re much more likely to care about it. Meaning, we’ll contribute to the community more when we really feel we’re a part of it; We’ll treat nature with more respect when we stop seeing ourselves as in a fight against it; and we’ll embrace disagreement when we see that without it, we wouldn’t know our own position!
Seeing that good and evil are interdependent is also vital to Pala. Characters throughout the book criticize religions and philosophies (Calvinism, Manichaeism, etc.) that see the world as a fight between good and evil or light and darkness. They hold that such a view leads to intense frustration and conflict.
Instead of viewing evil (or tendencies often seen as evil) as needing eradication, Pala tries to work with it productively. For example, people who have a desire for power are not instructed to suppress this desire. Instead, Pala suggests they do some hard manual labor (like logging or farming) to release some energy and feel power over their work.
There’s also a significant Buddhist and Hindu influence in Pala which embraces non-dual awareness. This shows the unity of experiencer and experience and leads to a healthier mind.
Approach to Technology
Last May, the Center for AI Safety released a statement with hundreds of signatures from AI experts and public figures. The statement suggested we treat “mitigating the risk of extinction from AI” seriously.
AI experts are concerned that the technology they’re developing might, just might, cause the extinction of humans. If only there was something they could do about it!
In theory, they could stop developing the technology. But a quick glance at history shows us how much of an unrealistic expectation this is. The potential negative consequences of scientific breakthroughs are often not a strong deterrent. For example, the threat of nuclear war did not prevent advancements in nuclear science.
This problem that technology seems to advance even if it may harm us was a major concern to Aldous Huxley. Before the days of concern about social media and AI, Huxley was concerned about manipulative advertising, distraction via TV, and more. (These concerns can be found in Brave New World Revisited.)
Technology for Well-Being
Instead of embracing new technology right away, Pala considers the trade-offs of using it. If importing or creating new technology enhances the well-being of the Palanese, then they’ll use it. If not, they’ll turn it down. As a result, Pala may look simultaneously underdeveloped and state of the art.
To an outside observer, Pala’s transportation, industry, and entertainment may look underdeveloped. They use cars, but they’re not obsessed with new models; they use electricity and equipment for production of goods, but they avoid factories; and their entertainment consists of plays and books rather than movies and TV. In fact, I don’t think any character in the novel has a TV in their home.
The state of the art technologies in Pala include medicine, food storage, and birth control. Embracing these technologies helps Pala stay healthy and make the most of their resources. Whatever trade-offs come with these technologies are welcomed, as the positives outweigh the negatives.
It should also be noted, people in Pala train mynahs to fly around and shout “attention,” “here and now boys,” and “karuna” (meaning compassion). These short phrases serve as reminders of Palanese values and prove to be useful technology.
The Palanese approach technology is stated mathematically by one of the characters (Dr. Robert) on page 176:
Lenin used to say that electricity plus socialism equals communism. Our equations are rather different. Electricity minus heavy industry plus birth control equals democracy and plenty. Electricity plus heavy industry minus birth control equals misery, totalitarianism and war.
Aldous Huxley
Education System
On page 247 of Island, an education administrator asks the main character (Will) a simple question: “what are boys and girls for?”
Will answers by saying that it depends where you are. In communist dictatorships like the Soviet Union, they’re for strengthening the state; In capitalist countries like America, they’re for mass consumption.
Huxley hasn’t been the only person to critique the purpose of the American education system. Most of us have heard the common critiques that it doesn’t teach practical skills or prepare people for adult life. A few decades after Island was written, George Carlin made a similar critique in his comedy special Life is Worth Losing:
They don’t want well-informed, well-educated people capable of critical thinking… They want obedient workers.
George Carlin
By “they” Carlin is referring to big businesses that influence politicians and, by extension, curriculum.
A simple way of putting the issue is to say that in the USSR and the USA, boys and girls weren’t being treated as ends in themselves. They were being treated as means to an end of either a strengthened state or a richer upper class. The latter is likely preferable to the former, but it’s still not a good system.
Education for Actualization
Eventually on page 248, the administrator answers that in Pala, boys and girls are for “being turned into full-blown human beings.” In other words, they are treated as ends in themselves. Palanese curriculum aims to create smart, compassionate, and actualized adults that will lead happy lives.
As a result of this aim, along with typical subjects like math and reading, children learn simple lessons in psychology, ethics, religion, and more from a young age. They’re instructed in how to handle strong emotions, deal with other people, and see reality and language for what they are.
As the children become young adults, the latter point becomes more emphasized. Eventually they’re taught about non-dual awareness and invited to experience it through controlled and instructed psychedelic experiences. The lessons and experiences in non-dual awareness are vital to Pala’s compassionate and happy society.
The education system, along with other factors, creates a society full of actualized, free, and happy people living in a tropical climate. If you read Island, you’ll likely be a little disappointed that Pala is fictional when you close the book.