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It's worth revisiting the Constitutional philosophy of separation of church and state [0]. When technology became our new religion, it prefigured the establishm

It's worth revisiting the Constitutional philosophy of separation of church and state [0]. When technology became our new religion, it prefigured the establishment of new churches. The five giant websites that ministrate to all our earthly needs demand fresh Jeffersonian ideas. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state

engineer_22 3y ago
That's a stretch, I don't see tech giants as religious vehicles.
- nonrandomstring 3y ago
  Y'know I thought that too, and even wrote a (I hope reasonably well argued) piece on why people should not throw a religious mantle over issues that can better be framed within rationalist secular ethics [0]. But then I keep seeing more and more that scares me in people's reactions to AI and what are clearly cult-like tendencies to submit before the power of technology. The very conceit of "technological determinism" [1] is already an abdication of reason. Check out Techno-Theodicy, the relation between Silicon Valley, Cosmism and transcendence, and the now old but very salient Andrew Kimbrell talk on "Cold Evil" [2]. It always starts as " a stretch" and in the blink of an eye it's "just accepted as the normal culture". I think it would behove us well to at least recognise and address this. [0] https://techwrongs.org/2023/03/06/microsoft-is-not-a-religious-choice/ https://techwrongs.org/2023/03/06/microsoft-is-not-a-religio... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_determinism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_determinism [2] https://centerforneweconomics.org/publications/cold-evil-technology-and-modern-ethics/ https://centerforneweconomics.org/publications/cold-evil-tec...
  - engineer_22 3y ago
    This is an idea I haven't seen before, thanks for that. I'll be glad to read it. Unfortunately, since it's new to me, I can't provide any kind of reasoned reply, other than to send my thanks and a nice day. EDIT: That said, I'll also check out your podcast.
- kjkjadksj 3y ago
  They do things like incorporate in ireland to not pay taxes and often have a cult of personality at the helm. Quacks like a duck and all.

engineer_22 3y ago

That's a stretch, I don't see tech giants as religious vehicles.

nonrandomstring 3y ago
Y'know I thought that too, and even wrote a (I hope reasonably well argued) piece on why people should not throw a religious mantle over issues that can better be framed within rationalist secular ethics [0]. But then I keep seeing more and more that scares me in people's reactions to AI and what are clearly cult-like tendencies to submit before the power of technology. The very conceit of "technological determinism" [1] is already an abdication of reason. Check out Techno-Theodicy, the relation between Silicon Valley, Cosmism and transcendence, and the now old but very salient Andrew Kimbrell talk on "Cold Evil" [2]. It always starts as " a stretch" and in the blink of an eye it's "just accepted as the normal culture". I think it would behove us well to at least recognise and address this. [0] https://techwrongs.org/2023/03/06/microsoft-is-not-a-religious-choice/ https://techwrongs.org/2023/03/06/microsoft-is-not-a-religio... [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_determinism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_determinism [2] https://centerforneweconomics.org/publications/cold-evil-technology-and-modern-ethics/ https://centerforneweconomics.org/publications/cold-evil-tec...
- engineer_22 3y ago
  This is an idea I haven't seen before, thanks for that. I'll be glad to read it. Unfortunately, since it's new to me, I can't provide any kind of reasoned reply, other than to send my thanks and a nice day. EDIT: That said, I'll also check out your podcast.
kjkjadksj 3y ago
They do things like incorporate in ireland to not pay taxes and often have a cult of personality at the helm. Quacks like a duck and all.