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Your comment lacks specificity so it's difficult to ascertain what elements of technology you understand the Amish to exploit for themselves, and which you beli
by JackCh 9y ago
Your comment lacks specificity so it's difficult to ascertain what elements of technology you understand the Amish to exploit for themselves, and which you believe they parasite off the rest of us.
Speaking generally then, I think it's interesting to note that contrary to popular perception the Amish will often (albeit not always) use modern technology when they decide it suits them for industrial purposes. This includes the (not universal) use of diesel generators, telephones, computers, solar panels, wind turbines, tractors, refrigerators, milking machines, batteries, compressed air, among others. They will (often) use this technology in one aspect of their lives while abstaining in other contexts. They may have a computer in their workplace for workplace related tasks, but they almost certainly won't have a computer at home with which to play CS:Go in the evenings.
I believe this is what toasterlovin was referring to when he attributed to the Amish the question "How can we reap the benefits of this new technology while avoiding it's pitfalls?"
- toasterlovin 9y agoThat is precisely what I was referring to. I will say, though, that there are aspects of the Amish lifestyle and belief structure which would not be viable if they were the dominant culture, rather than just a very small minority. The big issue that stands out to me is that I'm not sure that the Amish emphasis on extremely tight community bonds is compatible with the level of economic specialization required for a nation state to be competitive with it's neighbors. There is something kind of magical that only seems to happen in cities, but cities seem to be especially effective at promoting an intensely individualistic lifestyle. But that's all orthogonal to my original point. You can learn from the Amish without becoming Amish. We could emulate their approach of delineating very specific ways in which technology is to be integrated into our lives. But our society seems to have serious problems with the idea of orthopraxy, so I'm not counting on it.
- lordCarbonFiber 9y agoThat's my exact point. They can consume technology if they so choose, but that choice is provided to them by the rest of society. The attitudes the parent suggests we should learn from would, if adopted by the majority, means there's no one left to provide that tech.
- toasterlovin 9y agoWait, what? All I'm saying is that we would be better off if we asked ourselves how to use each new technology in a way that allows up to reap the benefits while avoiding the pitfalls. In no way am I suggesting that we not create or use new technologies at all.