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J. R. Sommer's avatar

"Technology has gone too far." I explore this problem in my book (The New Colossus). Many might be surprised to learn where all this leads.

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Stefano's avatar

Perhaps not the middle ages? They didn't have typewriters in the middle ages. And feudalism appears luminous, but only because cannot fathom working 12 hour days tilling the soil or later in oppressive industrial factories.

Great essay and much to be agreed with, not least how reconstructing Babel's tower while hoping this time will be different is most certainly a loosing proposition. I think we need a new ideology, something that allows us to bring forth virtue and ethics, spirit and God, the best of liberalism, capitalism and socialism, but not shackled to becoming slaves of money, private property, and the State.

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James Doone's avatar

I am in the process of writing an essay on this subject (of a sythesis of the good in most traditions). It is called Red Tsarism [Someone in Lavader's comment section mentioned the name].

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Stefano's avatar

Look forward to reading it! :)

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ToxSec's avatar

Bring back the world of stone, wood and earth, bring back the medieval world, when we were happy, and life was normal. DEUS VULT. Give us back the world of magic and of the sorcerer Merlin!

Love it! 🟢

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Henri Mellett's avatar

Wonderfully articulated! Lets gladly do our agreed time in the fields and mines, but without forgetting the creative value of leisure, so consciousness and fruitfulness grow together!

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James Doone's avatar

That is cope. If refuting the article is so easy, then make it so.

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Li Min's avatar

Technology is an absolute good (which can sometimes be used for harmful purposes) and can be separated from aspects of modernly we may dislike, like consumerism or dumb social media. Arguing against technology is equivalent to arguing against the continued advancement of humanity. Without taking a linear view of history, the advancement of humanity is the only reason we exist. If we don't continue to develop new tech and increase our knowledge as human beings, we may as well stop existing.

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James Doone's avatar

Icharus flew too close to the sun, and fell. Such will be humanity if it continues on the quest for tech maximum.

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Li Min's avatar

From a realist point of view, if one part of the world stops to invest in technology, they are doomed to another 100 years of humiliation.

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James Doone's avatar

Sadly that is true, from a realist perspective.

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Henri Mellett's avatar

Does the rustic lifestyle of the Amish not challenge your possible addiction to technology as a savior?

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Li Min's avatar

I'm genuinely trying to see if i can find any common ground with traditionalists. As Dr. Dugin said, philosophers can't be controlled. But I think they can form temporary alliances. If we share the goal of opposing Western universalism and individualism, is it worthwhile to make arguments in favor of technology, to try to separate the continued improvements in human knowledge from Westernization. Or should we keep parallel paths?

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James Doone's avatar

Other civilisations should follow their own way, not try to copy the West (which always includes the folly of western hubris, materialism and atheism).

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Li Min's avatar

Yes, I also think this is the best approach.

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Syndie's avatar

"Arguing against technology is equivalent to arguing against the continued advancement of humanity." This is a modernist argument.

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Li Min's avatar

Maybe. I'm still thinking about these arguments. I don't even know if "advancement" is the right term because I oppose a linear view of history. But humanity has to keep learning and technology is the best expression of it. I'm just wondering if we can oppose other aspects of modernism without opposition to technology, because tech has many applications, not just consumerism.

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Bakelite72's avatar

There is no "advancement" in the sense that you mean it. There is only change. Some good, some bad. Technology tends to drive both kinds of changes. Each generation, we are here and then we are gone. The point is not to believe in some utopian future, the pursuit of which must be the only reason for being; the only sensible and moral thing to do with the time we are given is to remain focused on treating each other as kindly and cooperatively as possible, rather than permit ourselves to be lured by the glamours and false promises of materialism, fame, fortune and all other ego-stroking mirage simply from fear of death or the void of "meaninglessness". There is not much "meaning" to anything, beyond whether you are hurting or helping, yourself or others.

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Kevin Maher's avatar

Well put. Constant thought of others, and being of service to your loved ones is a life full of meaning, purpose, and one that simply worth living. There’s a lot of joy in humility,a fact I wish I had fully understood when I was younger. It would have saved a lot of people, including myself, a lot of trouble and strife.

Have a good Monday.

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Todd Ianuzzi's avatar

This is just a larp

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James Doone's avatar

Not an argument.

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Hussein Hopper's avatar

One of the most utterly impractical and frankly loony posts I have seen on substack , home to quite a few loons also it must be said. Presumably some variety of climate nutjob.

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James Doone's avatar

You fear what you do not understand.

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Hussein Hopper's avatar

You fear reality pal and have zero understanding of it. Grow up

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James Doone's avatar

Make an argument.

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Hussein Hopper's avatar

Not worth my time as the premises of the article are just too dumb

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DamianLongin's avatar

💯 ❤️‍🔥

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Klaus Hubbertz's avatar

{...the masses given spades and scythes and sent out into the fields to harvest the grains...}

How dare you ???

They want to watch TikTok and have pizzas all day instead !!! 🤣🤣🤣

The return to medieval circumstances will take place as you wish.

Folks will perish from infections, injections, hunger, fake meat, bugs, cold, etc.

The only difference to centuries gone by will be that the elites reside in high-tech palaces with any imaginable current or future comfort and travel by private jets or rockets around the planet at will, not in castles without window-panes or cavalcades through forests nearby ...

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