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This guy is fascinating to listen to. I think the facade of techno-utopianism has really started to crumble in recent years and this sort of critical eye is wha

by briga 9y ago

This guy is fascinating to listen to. I think the facade of techno-utopianism has really started to crumble in recent years and this sort of critical eye is what the world needs right now. Anyone know which books of his are the best reads?

olivermarks 9y ago
I would say his earlier ones https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaron_Lanier#You_Are_Not_a_Gadget_(2010) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaron_Lanier#You_Are_Not_a_Gad... IMO 'you are not a gadget' was good at predicting how web 2.0 would become distopean. https://www.evgenymorozov.com https://www.evgenymorozov.com is good on 'the facade of techno-utopianism' crumbling, especially 'to save everything, click here'
TaylorAlexander 9y ago
I am not familiar with his books (hopefully others can help), but I wanted to say that to me the issue with techno utopias is their connection with capitalism. Specifically the notion that we will work for money to pay for everything we need. Admittedly Jaron Lanier is wiser than me in this area, but I still think technology has a huge role to play in making a better world. I feel though that as long as we expect to exploit the position of those beneath us (with respect to social class and wealth) then technology will be used to that aim to create a stratified dystopia where everyone is trapped in a ladder holding down those beneath them while those above them hold them down.
rasur 9y ago
"Who Owns the Future?" is IMHO very much worth a read, as it points out some of the issues we face as a society dealing with the the big social-data-silos in terms of 'us' being the product for sale, what that means, and maybe how to combat it.
- salt-licker 9y ago
  When I read "Who owns the future" three years ago I thought his diagnosis of the Internet's issues was spot on but his solution of compensating online creators with micropayments was outlandish and technically impossible. However, the rise of cryptocurrency (e.g. Basic Attention Token) made me feel short-sighted and I put a lot more stock in his ideas nowadays.

by briga 9y ago

olivermarks 9y ago

I would say his earlier ones https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaron_Lanier#You_Are_Not_a_Gadget_(2010) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaron_Lanier#You_Are_Not_a_Gad... IMO 'you are not a gadget' was good at predicting how web 2.0 would become distopean. https://www.evgenymorozov.com https://www.evgenymorozov.com is good on 'the facade of techno-utopianism' crumbling, especially 'to save everything, click here'

TaylorAlexander 9y ago

I am not familiar with his books (hopefully others can help), but I wanted to say that to me the issue with techno utopias is their connection with capitalism. Specifically the notion that we will work for money to pay for everything we need. Admittedly Jaron Lanier is wiser than me in this area, but I still think technology has a huge role to play in making a better world. I feel though that as long as we expect to exploit the position of those beneath us (with respect to social class and wealth) then technology will be used to that aim to create a stratified dystopia where everyone is trapped in a ladder holding down those beneath them while those above them hold them down.

rasur 9y ago

"Who Owns the Future?" is IMHO very much worth a read, as it points out some of the issues we face as a society dealing with the the big social-data-silos in terms of 'us' being the product for sale, what that means, and maybe how to combat it.

salt-licker 9y ago
When I read "Who owns the future" three years ago I thought his diagnosis of the Internet's issues was spot on but his solution of compensating online creators with micropayments was outlandish and technically impossible. However, the rise of cryptocurrency (e.g. Basic Attention Token) made me feel short-sighted and I put a lot more stock in his ideas nowadays.