Internet and Society

Class Notes

Technological Determinism

-First we started out by reading the CNN article on page 1.

“Do you remember your mom’s phone number?”

-We were then asked the question: can you relate to this article?

1^st box statement- We have a dependency on technology.

“Automated Idiot Savage”- contradiction.

Automated: to look at our behavior; we turn ourselves on and off, and we do it subconsciously.

Idiot: idiot

Savage: genius.

-this explains the loss of basic skills. We can barely use the radio or even some TVs.

1^st reading. Thomas Veblen and technological determinism (and others)

- things are in the saddle/ and ride mankind.

This basically means that technology is taking over mankind/the world.

Humans- “the sex organs of machines”.

Karl Marx- Windmill gives you society with the feudal lord.

Feudal Lord: hierarchy.

Technology is bringing class decides. For example: Google, Amazon, and many other big companies.

We fecundate machines us bees feed plants…?

We established sex organs- (they reproduce, so it’s a source of new generations0.

We have a responsibility to guide technlology.

There is a propotion.

Humans : Technology Plants : Pawns.

We then read : “What technology wants”

- we agreed tht technology is restricting our freedom.

DEBATE

For Kaczynski- 1. Society puts rules. Technology makes us freer.

Against Kaczynski-1. We created technology, so we’re responsible for every change.

For Kaczynski- 2. Kaczynski did the right thing because then technology would be too powerful.

Against Kaczynski- 2. Society constrained society.

WHOSE FAULT IS IT???

Who’s responsible for the keystone pipeline?

-we’re addicted to fossil fuels.

-The market and technology.

Switch to internet.

Internet affects us.

IS THE INTERNET UNSTOPPABLE?

Technology is everywhere- we cannot stop it.

BREAK

“A response to this idea”

-So integrated into society, cant go back or forward.

“Problem with Kaczynski manifesto”

-technology gives us choices.

“Some final thoughts”

-singularity.

We then watched the video by Jason Silva.

Do we think the Unabomber was right?

-Yes, to help us to force.

-He was right, technological determinism is real.

-Technology is going to liberate us.