Ruminations on our relationship with technology
“Is the machine going to crush humanity or serve humanity?”
– Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth
Articles on technology and culture look at how technological innovation changes practically everything. After all, whenever we add a new technology to a culture, we don’t just have one plus the other. Instead, we have a new culture—a new way of life. To illustrate, just look at human history.
For instance, innovations in toolmaking precipitated the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. Later, the printing press spread Renaissance humanism and literacy. After that, large-scale machines brought on the Industrial Revolution. Lately, information technologies triggered the Digital Revolution, reshaping society in unpredictable ways. Clearly, technological changes and cultural changes are interrelated, if not inseparable.
Common misconceptions about social media and free expression There are many misconceptions about social media and free expression, including the claim that the former somehow entails the latter. In legal contexts, for example, the freedom of expression is what prevents a government from interfering with the right of citizens to express their ideas in public. … Read more
AI and the problem of induction: insight from David Hume I recently traveled through Scotland, home to one of my favorite Enlightenment philosophers, David Hume. In fact, right in the capital city of Edinburgh, where Hume once lived, there’s a statue of him. Hume wrote back in the 18th century, but his philosophical thought remains … Read more
Why ask ethical questions about technology design? “Our conventional response to all media, namely that it is how they are used that counts, is the numb stance of the technological idiot.” – Marshall McLuhan (2003, p 31) Throughout his writings, Marshall McLuhan pointed out a cliché that we commonly hear about technology. Typically, it goes … Read more
Is it wise to trust digital crowds? Whenever I go online to order something and look at customer reviews, doubts may pop into my mind. Sometimes, I have second thoughts about what I’m ordering. Should I really buy it, or shouldn’t I? But more frequently, I wonder about the ratings I’m looking at. Why should … Read more
Retro review of Midnight in Paris Summary: The film ‘Midnight in Paris’ is much more than a romantic comedy. It’s a reminder that, in our digital age of accelerated innovation, spendthrift consumerism, and occasional lack of appreciation for older art and historic artifacts, sometimes playing with antiquated tech and old media—from jazz records to classic … Read more
Designing and using extended reality to enrich life … or just avoid it? Quite often, ancient stories convey forewarnings that remain relevant in modern times. For instance, some of the unintended consequences of extended reality (such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality, which we’ll say more about below) have a striking parallel in … 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
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
Ten Great Science Fiction Films (concluded) Concluding the list of ten great science fiction films. (See Parts I, II, & III of this series on mythology in media if you haven’t previously.) #8) Gattaca “There’s no gene for fate.” Genetic Discrimination The human genome is a mystery scientists are unraveling … and manipulating. Of course, … Read more