213. Techno-Optimism
Channel: THUNK
Date: 2021-08-23

Many think the specific nature of a technology depends on the humans wielding it, but that tech ultimately serves humanity’s interests. Philosopher John McDermott challenges this view with a simple question: *whose* interests does tech serve?

-Links for the Curious-

Technology - The Opiate of the Intellectuals (McDermott, 1969).pdf - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rnFe0EiPWP6bU7PvmSG2SdsKasHO2sJO/view?usp=sharing 

Looking Back in Order to Move Forward (Schwartz Cowan, 2009).pdf - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XKx1Z281rr9AWIwlLXaIZSKH3JIrNGQv/view?usp=sharing 

IPCEF Webinar Series: The Ethics of Technical Innovation Webinar - https://youtu.be/kB1C82ndKeM

The Computer That Predicted the U.S. Would Win the Vietnam War- https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/10/the-computer-that-predicted-the-us-would-win-the-vietnam-war/542046/