Neil Postman's creative novel titled Technopoly makes the argument that every technological innovation has positive and negative effects on society. The term technophiles is introduced by Postman as lovers of technology who can only think of technology positively. In regards to computers, it is encouraged by Postman to focus on the way it alters our conception and undermines our old ideas instead of focusing on its efficiency (pg. 19). This argument may be refuted by the authors of Computers:The Life Story of a Technology, Eric Swedin and David Ferro, who greatly emphasis their discussion on the ever improving efficiency of the computer. Swedin and Ferro seem to take pride in America's advancement in technology by listing numerous innovations but Postman regards this advancement as strange and dangerous; Postman creates the word Technopoly to describe America's altered interest, "character of symbols" (pg. 20) and community due to technology.
Although Postman begins his novel by encouraging the view of technology as both positive and negative part of society, further reading of the book suggests that Postman himself has a negative outlook on technology. I agree with Postman's argument that technology became "one sure thing to believe in" (pg. 55) when religion and tradition were being challenged by Nietzche, Darwin, Marx and Freud ( pg. 54). However, Postman believes that "Any conception of God's design certainly lost much of its power and meaning, and with that loss went the satisfaction of a culture in which moral and intellectual values were integrated."(pg. 38) This statement sounds very dramatic and I believe that Postman overstates the effects of technology. Postman's opinion that sin and evil have disappeared in Technopoly because " Their god speaks of efficiency, precision, objectivity"(pg.90) and not "righteousness or goodness or mercy or grace"(pg. 90), is extreme and suggests that America's society has totally lost a sense of morality. It is true that morality has been challenged by technology but not to the exaggerated extent that Postman states. Overall, Technopoly has introduced some interesting concepts of the way technology has changed the culture of America but if Niel Postman states that it is obvious that there are two sides to technology, and proclaims himself as a Thamus ,one who speaks of the burdens of technology(pg.5), he sounds just as narrow minded as technophiles; I look forward to reading what kind of society Postman would prefer America to be.
Although Postman begins his novel by encouraging the view of technology as both positive and negative part of society, further reading of the book suggests that Postman himself has a negative outlook on technology. I agree with Postman's argument that technology became "one sure thing to believe in" (pg. 55) when religion and tradition were being challenged by Nietzche, Darwin, Marx and Freud ( pg. 54). However, Postman believes that "Any conception of God's design certainly lost much of its power and meaning, and with that loss went the satisfaction of a culture in which moral and intellectual values were integrated."(pg. 38) This statement sounds very dramatic and I believe that Postman overstates the effects of technology. Postman's opinion that sin and evil have disappeared in Technopoly because " Their god speaks of efficiency, precision, objectivity"(pg.90) and not "righteousness or goodness or mercy or grace"(pg. 90), is extreme and suggests that America's society has totally lost a sense of morality. It is true that morality has been challenged by technology but not to the exaggerated extent that Postman states. Overall, Technopoly has introduced some interesting concepts of the way technology has changed the culture of America but if Niel Postman states that it is obvious that there are two sides to technology, and proclaims himself as a Thamus ,one who speaks of the burdens of technology(pg.5), he sounds just as narrow minded as technophiles; I look forward to reading what kind of society Postman would prefer America to be.
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