Ruminations on our relationship with technology
Christopher Cocchiarella Instrumentarianism and social media Summary: Instrumentarianism refers to Big Tech’s power to monitor and manipulate what you can and can’t see online. For instance, social media sites may use this power to commodify people’s attention and private data. The goal is to keep users on their sites for as long as possible, often through click-bait … Read more
Technics of art vs. aesthetics Summary: There at least are two dimensions to any kind of artwork: art vs. aesthetics. More specifically, it’s the difference between artistic skill vs. aesthetic vision. One way to understand this difference between art vs. aesthetics is to consider it in the context of using technology. For instance, take fashion … Read more
What is “cognitive surplus”? In the previous part of this two-part book review, I summarized some of Clay Shirky’s ideas in his popular book Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organizations. As pointed out, Shirky makes several interesting observations about how new media, such as smart devices and social networking sites, give users … Read more
Critique of Clay Shirky and organizing without organizations If you’re somebody who regularly reads about technology trends and how they shape society at large, you may have come across Clay Shirky’s writings (if not the occasional critique of Clay Shirky and his ideas). Shirky is an influential author when it comes to discussing the social … Read more
Stoic virtue for social media Summary: If some folks find themselves constantly feeling angry or outraged, one reason may be because they’re perpetually distracted. At least, that was an observation the Stoic philosopher Seneca made two millennia ago. His advice: Remove unnecessary distractions to cultivate a calm (as opposed to agitated) state of mind. That … Read more
Four ways to practice digital minimalism According to Cal Newport, author of Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, we can greatly improve our lives by learning how to use technology more intentionally—that is, in ways that support our goals and values. Newport refers to this approach as digital minimalism. (See Part … Read more
The philosophy of digital minimalism: Questioning the value of technology Look around the next time you’re in line at Chipotle, Whole Foods, or Exxon: our addictions are showing. A generation ago, nearly everyone casually puffed cigarettes throughout the day. Today, indoor smoking seems crazy, but it’s been replaced by the captivating glow of our four-inch … Read more
Are e-books or e-readers good technologies for reading? Summary: There are key differences between screen media and print media, and these differences make books better than screens for reading, especially deep reading. But what about e-books? Are e-readers good technologies for reading too? Interestingly, although they’re technically screens, e-readers have features that imitate books. Consequently, … Read more
Why Screens Are Better Than Books For Interactive Learning Summary: Although books are good for deep reading that requires focusing, recalling, and reflecting upon what you learn, screens are better than books for interactive kinds of learning, such as presenting dynamic content or simulating game-like interfaces. Thus, screens work well for activities like visualization, navigation, … Read more