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‘Techno-Optimism’ is Not Something You Should Believe In ❧ Current Affairs (www.currentaffairs.org)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Techno-optimism is a dangerous philosophy whose adherents espouse the blind faith that market capitalism and technology will solve the world’s problems. In reality, this kind of optimism simply justifies elite power and promotes indifference to human suffering.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Technology has created a higher standard of living than at any time in human history.

I don't think many ppl dispute this. Techno-optimism isn't about just having technology, though. It's about capitalists creating technology and ignoring all and any negative outcome that could arise from it. The average standard of living doesn't matter to someone who can't attain it and techno-optimism ignores how technology hurts those ppl most of all.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The core assumption of techno-optimism seems to be that technology has led to a vast improvement in living standards, so we should do that more. This article is a hit piece which spends a fair amount of time trying to characterize techno-optimists as frantic, manic, wild-eyed, pseudo-religious nuts, but the core assumption of techno-optimism is not unreasonable.

I disagree with the tone of the article, while agreeing with many of the arguments.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

so we should do that more

"... as quickly as possible, while ignoring any harms caused by the technology or claiming they'll be fixed later, and only as long as they're in control of it" Again, there aren't many ppl arguing that technology itself is bad. Techno-optimism isn't just about "tech=good"; it's philosophy is that our current technology industry is good for society and shouldn't be examined (regulated) because its leaders know better than govt or simple citizens.