New Technologies: A means or the end?
Thursday, August 20, 2009 by M09
“What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance...
In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.”
- Neil Postman from Amusing Ourselves to Death
It is difficult to resist the conclusion that Huxley was right, not Orwell. Having read Amusing Ourselves to Death, I have found Postman presents some compelling insights. Some of his conclusions may be overstated, but he does present some undeniable truths. The demand for new technologies seems to be driven by our need for ‘conveniences’ rather than ‘progression’. By this I mean to say that most new technology presents short-cuts for our life rather than improves upon it.
I wonder, how much of new technology has really made life better?
I do not mean to disparage legitimate endeavours such as those that exist in medicine. But I do mean to question the nobility of inventions such as the iPod. Have I lived a better life now that I have an iPod?
Of course this may all seem overly contemplative (and it may be), but I think such honest questions deserve answers when we wonder where we are all going with technology.