From Brave New World:
“But why is [Shakespeare] prohibited?” asked the Savage. …
The Controller shrugged his shoulders. “Because it’s old; that’s the chief reason. We haven’t any use for old things here.”
“Even when they’re beautiful?”
“Particularly when they’re beautiful. Beauty’s attractive, and we don’t want people to be attracted by old things. We want them to like the new ones.”
Related: Chronological snobbery
Lisp?
It’s chilling to read in Brave New World about people conditioned from birth to consume, to throw away things rather than to repair them. This was written in 1932! Consumerism was in its infancy compared to now.
I suppose “chronological snobbery” is a misguided attempt at defeating “conservatism”?
1. We have always done A and B, and it was all good.
2. B is good.
3. Therefore A is good.
Two Fools:
One says “This is old, and therefore good”
The other “This is new, and therefore better”
(told to me long ago by a young man who is now no longer young)