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This article and this comment thread are prime examples of why the tech industry needs social science and humanities. There are literally centuries of human tho
by cirgue 9y ago
This article and this comment thread are prime examples of why the tech industry needs social science and humanities. There are literally centuries of human though and decades of experimentation that addresses this problem, and the constant throughout history is that it is is both hard and complicated.
- qazpot 9y agoYes the proposed solution in the article as well as some solutions proposed here in the comments ignore decades of theory and knowledge developed in social sciences, philosophy and other subjects by thousands of thinkers. I guess when you only have a hammer everything looks like a nail.
- kiliantics 9y agoSeriously. It's almost as if there was a concerted effort in the last century to stamp out any kinds of thought that opposed or threatened the dominant capitalist ideology of the global hegemonic powers...
- ferongr 9y agoSocial sciences and humanities do not adress any problems or give objective, actionable advice or guidance.
- sophistry 9y agoCan you give an example of a case where you've expected to find a solution in humanities and social sciences and been disappointed?
- craftyguy 9y agoFor a solution to be a solution, it has to work, right? I would argue that there are a great number of proposals in humanities and social sciences, but the fact that we are still plagued by war & depression means that the proposals either didn't work or cannot be implemented for whatever reason(s).
- bbctol 9y agoCo-signed, especially the idea that studying the humanities is useful even though (in fact because) the conclusion they give is often that these problems are hard and complicated. The most common reason I find myself wishing people approaching these problems in tech formally studied humanities is not because the humanities have "the answer" but because if you think you have an answer, it's almost certainly been thought of before, and analyzed for decades. Not reading admittedly boring and often inane philosophical books and instead trying to build your philosophy from first principles... tends to lead to whatever philosophy was created 50 years ago and has now permeated culture. Like how for a while, every geek I knew trying to re-invent moral philosophy ended up at utilitarianism, only to find out that the good counter-arguments had been made a long time ago; these days, people thinking about the internet, social pressure, and the nature of reality seem to be slowly re-inventing Foucault and Baudrillard without daring to touch the confusing French texts.
- cirgue 9y agoThis is unfortunate, because Foucault and Baudrillard are both really entertaining once you get the hang of their writing style, especially compared to other philosophers.
- geoffreyhale 9y ago"every geek I knew trying to re-invent moral philosophy ended up at utilitarianism, only to find out that the good counter-arguments had been made a long time ago" And kudos for overall quality post.
- ionised 9y agoEthics and Civics taught in schools and universities would be ideal as well.