Soma from Brave New World

Submitted by skippyforeplay t3_z8bpm4 in books

I’m almost finished with Brave New World, and have found out that there is a real world drug “Carisoprodol”, used to treat musculoskelatal pain, that is sold under the trade name Soma. Does anyone have any insight on why the drug makers would use this name given the negative conotations from the book?

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Jack-Campin t1_iyathtv wrote

Huxley didn't invent the word.

https://www.huxley.net/soma/index.html

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MuchMethod7039 t1_iyaypyy wrote

Yes, soma is a Sanskrit word. It's most likely they are using the Sanskrit meaning of rejuvenating the body.

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Jack-Campin t1_iybvbow wrote

"Rejuvenating" isn't what it does though. The effect is more like what Huxley imagined though the associations were presumably intended to be more positive.

It's first brand name was "Miltown" which suggests dreary town planning more than a happy drug.

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MuchMethod7039 t1_iybw2wo wrote

oh, I was agreeing about the fact that Huxley didn't invent the word soma. I am referring to the Sanskrit definition of Soma; Soma literally translates to a drink that is supposed to allow for rejuvenation in Sanskrit and is used in Hindu rituals. Thus the drug company might be using the word in that context.

Soma actually has a couple of meanings in Sanskrit, like the fact that Soma is also a moon god. It is variable.

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MuchMethod7039 t1_iyayekn wrote

Soma is a Sanskrit word, it is often used in Vedic texts to refer to an Elixir that rejuvenates and restored the body. I believe that is why they use this term because it connotates rejuvenation and relief from ailments.

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Agostotrece t1_iyau70r wrote

There is another previous use for the word soma, icant remember right now from which anciwnt culture it was but they divided the human entity into three essential parts; pneuma is the soul or spirit; sarx is the meat wo the soul, just the corpse; and soma is the body when pneuma is within it. So i think Soma is an addequate name for a medicine that treats body aches, this cannot be a coincidence, but pharmaceutics being not afraid of bad propaganda.

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BoazCorey t1_iyazjj7 wrote

There's also a company called Soylent that makes meal-replacement shakes. And an energy drink that's just straight-up called Cocaine haha

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saga_of_a_star_world t1_iyb6rlw wrote

I was just going to say this! Of all the things I wouldn't want to eat, anything made from Soylent would be at the top of the list.

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SlowMovingTarget t1_iyb66ot wrote

"Those who don't read books are doomed to repeat the moral failures warned of therein." -- Santa Anna Clause, I think.

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carbondrewtonium t1_iyb8czn wrote

Soma is many things. Nowadays it’s sports/Netflix/Reddit/cat videos/etc.

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CynicaISaint t1_iyat0q2 wrote

All publicity is good publicity.. or something to that effect I'm sure.

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