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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CynicaISaint t1_iyat0q2 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 12:42 AM

#785,116

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

Jack-Campin t1_iyathtv wrote on November 30, 2022 at 12:46 AM

#785,220

Huxley didn't invent the word.

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

Agostotrece t1_iyau70r wrote on November 30, 2022 at 12:51 AM

#785,385

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.

MuchMethod7039 t1_iyayekn wrote on November 30, 2022 at 1:23 AM

#786,429

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.

MuchMethod7039 t1_iyaypyy wrote on November 30, 2022 at 1:25 AM

#786,515

Replying to Jack-Campin (#785,220)

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

BoazCorey t1_iyazjj7 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 1:32 AM

#786,729

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

SlowMovingTarget t1_iyb66ot wrote on November 30, 2022 at 2:22 AM

#788,470

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

saga_of_a_star_world t1_iyb6rlw wrote on November 30, 2022 at 2:27 AM

#788,617

Replying to BoazCorey (#786,729)

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.

carbondrewtonium t1_iyb8czn wrote on November 30, 2022 at 2:39 AM

#789,068

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

Jack-Campin t1_iybvbow wrote on November 30, 2022 at 6:05 AM

#795,491

Replying to MuchMethod7039 (#786,515)

"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.

MuchMethod7039 t1_iybw2wo wrote on November 30, 2022 at 6:14 AM

#795,664

Replying to Jack-Campin (#795,491)

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.