The Ethics of Behavior Modifying Drugs: From A Clockwork Orange to Modern Medicine

By Carlota Hermer

In Anthony Burgess’s 1962 dystopian novella A Clockwork Orange, Alex, a 15-year-old gang leader and convicted murderer, is administered the Ludovico Technique at the government's recommendation. This technique is a form of aversion therapy that uses drugs to condition Alex to become ill at the thought of violence. In turn, he can shorten his prison sentence to be released into society as a ‘reformed’ civilian. The novella and its movie adaptation both raise complex ethical questions: Is it morally acceptable to forcibly change a person’s behavior, even if it makes them ‘good’?