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Robert Heinlein's idea of the perfect crowd control drug- would you take Happiness daily? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 9 months ago by verity_kindle@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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In Robert Heinlein's novel "Farnham's Freehold", the protagonists accidentally end up in a very technologically advanced feudal society that depends on a drug called "Happiness" to control things and keep social classes rigidly separated. The hypothesis of this question: the drug is a pleasant tasting drink you take daily. It has no known negative side effects. It rapidly induces a feeling of deep contentment, peace, clarity of mind and general satisfaction with your life. You will not become physically dependent on it. You don't have to pay anything to get it. A small, unchanging dose must be taken every day to maintain this effect, but you don't control its distribution. It is distributed by the ruling class of your society, but no one is coerced to take it, as they are psychologically dependent on it. After many centuries of Happiness distribution, no one has shown desensitization or needed a higher dose. The protagonists in the book rejected their doses, escaped briefly and were recaptured. Would you take Happiness? Why or why not?

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[–] healer_56@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

its quite an interesting question, surprisingly, i have to say tbh.

Because in the context it sounds bad. But thinking about it I do feel like i also would take it and even go so far as saying i think the society would be better.

Not so sure if it really would be a means of a ruling class to keep the rest under control just with this. Just because i am content i can still see injustice and might want to change that.