"Phosphorus recovery," explained Henry telegraphically. "On their way up the chimney the gases go through four separate treatments. P2O5 used to go right out of circulation every time they cremated some one. Now they recover over ninety-eight per cent of it. More than a kilo and a half per adult corpse. Which makes the best part of four hundred tons of phosphorus every year from England alone." Henry spoke with a happy pride, rejoicing wholeheartedly in the achievement, as though it had been his own. "Fine to think we can go on being socially useful even after we're dead. Making plants grow" (Huxley 73).
Anchor Statement: Scientific and technological advancement benefit humanity.
In Chapter 5, Henry and Lenina take off on their machine and during their ride Lenina questions smoke-stacks and why they have balconies around them. Henry explains to her the purpose of the balconies as "Phosphorus Recovery." This process uses a chemical to cremate bodies and take phosphorus out of them. He explains this process as being beneficial for humanity because it makes people useful even after they're dead. I qualify the statement that scientific and technological advancement benefit humanity in this scenario because although this process may be beneficial to the environment, it is a sad and unfortunate way to rest after death. In the Brave New World science and technology is constantly used to make life much easier and effective. So, in their world, this scientific advancement is very beneficial. But in our world, I question whether this advancement would be very beneficial. My knowledge of this process is also very minute so I would have to look into this process and its positive and negative effects.
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