Questions and Answers
What is the primary focus of Neil Postman's book 'Technopoly'?
What legend does Postman recount in 'The Judgement of Thamus'?
The Thamus-Theuth legend from Plato's Phaedrus.
In 'From Tools to Technocracy', what are the three tools that signify a shift to technocracy?
Technopoly still retains connections to older ideas of God and country.
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Postman refers to Technopoly as a kind of cultural _____ when discussing information overload.
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According to Postman in 'The Broken Defenses', which type of institution has weakened in the face of new information technologies?
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In 'The Ideology of Machines: Medical Technology,' what does Postman suggest regarding the relationship between physician and patient?
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Postman believes that the rise of computer technology has helped to enhance our sense of self.
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What three tools does Postman mention in 'Invisible Technologies'?
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What does 'scientism' advocate for?
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What is the meaning of the 'great symbol drain'?
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In 'The Loving Resistance Fighter', it is suggested that we should resist by refusing to accept technology as the _____ order of things.
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Study Notes
Introduction
- The divide exists between technology and humanity, with technology being viewed primarily as an enemy.
- Postman argues that technology diminishes our human experience.
The Judgement of Thamus
- Based on the legend from Plato’s Phaedrus, Thamus warns Theuth about the unintended consequences of inventions like writing.
- Writing leads to diminished memory and the rise of false wisdom.
- Postman identifies key technologies (printing press, clock, television, computer) that have altered society with unintended negative consequences.
From Tools to Technocracy
- Postman categorizes cultures into tool-using, technocracies, and technopolies, marking a transition from tools serving culture to technology disrupting it.
- Pre-17th century cultures primarily used tools connected to theocratic values.
- The clock, printing press, and telescope signal the shift towards technocracy, separating knowledge from morality and fostering an obsession with precision.
From Technocracy to Technopoly
- Technopoly represents a total subservience to technology, starkly different from technocracy.
- Marked by the rise of Taylorism, technology is prioritized over human judgment.
- American technopoly flourishes due to cultural ethos favoring novelty, industrial ambitions, technological successes, and a departure from traditional beliefs.
The Improbable World
- Information overload leads to incoherence in worldviews and diminishes our ability to make sense of context.
- Significant technologies contributing to this state include the printing press, telegraph, photography, and later broadcasting and computers.
- Postman likens Technopoly to cultural AIDS, reducing our cognitive defenses against overwhelming information.
The Broken Defenses
- Traditional institutions (law, religion, education, family, state) face erosion of authority in managing information.
- These institutions originally had moral agendas, unlike the efficiency-driven approach found in technopoly.
- New information controllers include bureaucracy, experts confined to narrow specializations, and technical machinery focused on quantification.
The Ideology of Machines: Medical Technology
- Medical technology reflects the uncritical acceptance of technological advancement in American medicine.
- Physicians often prioritize tech interventions over patient experiences due to expectations and legal fears.
- The "technological imperative" raises concerns about treatment-induced ailments from excessive medical interventions.
The Ideology of Machines: Computer Technology
- Computer technology reshapes identities, fostering a perception of humans as machines and computers as intelligent entities.
- Reliance on computers undermines individual responsibility and problem-solving skills.
- Postman insists on the irreplaceable need for human insight as computers lack the capacity for meaning and emotion.
Invisible Technologies
- Language, statistics, and management play crucial roles in technopoly's operation.
- The manipulation of language can significantly influence outcomes in communication and decision-making.
- Statistics enable comprehensive quantification, leading to phenomena like eugenics and public polling.
- Management practices emerge, seeking to standardize behavior for improved efficiency and profit.
Scientism
- Scientism encompasses the application of natural science methods to human behavior, organization of actions based on scientific findings, and the belief in science as a universal belief system.
- Distinction between science and social research emphasizes understanding human behavior that aligns with fundamental human knowledge.
The Great Symbol Drain
- Overuse of symbols leads to a dilution of meaning, with technopoly erasing boundaries between sacred and profane.
- The loss of significant symbols jeopardizes cultural vitality, as technopoly fills the void with mechanistic values.
The Loving Resistance Fighter
- Advocates for appreciation of cultural symbols while resisting technology's assumed neutrality.
- Promotes awareness of technology's inherent political and economic agendas as a form of resistance to its dominance.
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Description
Explore key concepts from Neil Postman's 'Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology' with these flashcards. Delve into the relationship between technology and humanity, and understand Postman's critique of technological dominance in society.
