GAP - Jean-Baptiste Castel
A6 Book
Dec. 2016
I’m listening to a discussion on Heidegger (Philosopher) while at work and I frankly want to scream because half the arguments being made are ones about syntax/language, NOT philosophy (this is a discussion for another time, though).
The other half, and the subject of our post here today, are about how “modern” technology is somehow significantly different from “ancient/old” technology in it’s reasons and motivations and the implications and I’m screaming because every generation in history has had that exact discussion.
Humans are not just creators of technology; we -are- technology, in a very real sense. We exist as a species because of our ability to create and control the nature of the world around us, for good and for ill. That is the most human thing there is besides the ability to tell a story.
I mean, look me in the eye and tell me humans can be divorced from technology.
Language? Technology.
Almost all instances of fire use? Technology.
Sharpened sticks? Literally a wedge on a long arm, two simple machines.
To be human is to be technological, and to be narrative. Embrace those aspects of humanity; understand why you use technology, and understand how that technology works, both on a macro and micro level, and understand how you can exploit it to further your life and the lives of those you love. Understand how to tell your story and how the stories of others inform who they are and what they will do.
Fear of technology or it’s advancement is understandable and not necessarily evil, but one should be aware of the reality that this fear is a leash directed inward, not wings that let us live more freely. Those restraints are not an evil thing; but something we should understand and understand the reasoning behind and the consequences of, and be wary of the abuse of as much (if not more) than our wariness of the technology they aim to inhibit.
