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Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, continues to write anti-technology essays from prison, and his fans believe he makes some good points about the unforseen consequences of technology in modern society. One of those fans is philosopher David Skrbina, the Unabomber's longtime pen pal, who recently helped publish a book of the Kaczynski's writings. Mr. Skrbina says the violent tech skeptic should be taken seriously for his ideas. In this session, we'll explore whether that's true. Mr. Skrbina will outline the Unabomber's latest thinking, and another philosopher of technology, Peter Ludlow, will offer a counterpoint, in a debate moderated by a journalist who recently wrote a popular article on the topic.
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What Can We Learn from the Unabomber?
SXSW 2013
Moderator: Jeff Young Chronicle of Higher Educa?on @jryoung
The Unabomber
The Unabomber
• Mail-‐bombing campaign from 1978 to 1995.
• Killed 3 people and injured 23.
The Unabomber
• 35,000-‐word manifesto published in Sept. 1995.
• Argued that technology is destroying freedom and well-‐being.
-‐-‐ supermax prison in Florence, Colorado
The Unabomber’s Pen-‐Pal
• Chronicle of Higher Ed ar?cle
U. Michigan’s Anarchist Archive
Wired Magazine co-‐founder Kevin Kelly calls Ted Kaczynski’s manifesto: "one of the most astute analyses" of technological systems he has ever read, though he disagrees with the conclusion.
Why Aren’t There More Voices Cri?cal of Technology in Society?
Teaching the Unabomber: On syllabus of Skrbina’s course: “Philosophy of Technology”
Unse^ling Ques?ons
• “Is it even morally or ethically right to be studying the works of a societal criminal—in this case a social terrorist?"
Unse^ling Ques?ons
• “Is it even morally or ethically right to be studying the works of a societal criminal—in this case a social terrorist?”
• Should we even be here having this discussion?
• Is technology making our lives richer or poorer?
Peter Ludlow
• A muckraker of virtual worlds
Ludlow – a.k.a. Urizenus Sklar
Calling For Be^er Virtual Governance
“He compares the establishment of virtual worlds to the American Revolu?on and the founding of the United States. Cyberspace needs great thinkers to formulate its governance structures, he says, just as Thomas Jefferson devised the Declara?on of Independence.”
WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE UNABOMBER
David Skrbina
University of Michigan (Dearborn)
TECHNOLOGICAL SKEPTICISM
Technological Skep?cism
• “Technology…is the controlling power of our age, affec?ng and shaping virtually all aspects of human existence in this century.”
Webster Hood, 1972
Technological Skep?cism
• “Technology…is the controlling power of our age, affec?ng and shaping virtually all aspects of human existence in this century.”
Webster Hood, 1972
• “It may be that civiliza?on will never recover from the bad climate which enveloped the introduc?on of machinery. …
Technological Skep?cism
• “Technology…is the controlling power of our age, affec?ng and shaping virtually all aspects of human existence in this century.”
Webster Hood, 1972
• “It may be that civiliza?on will never recover from the bad climate which enveloped the introduc?on of machinery. … The world is now faced with a self-‐evolving system , which it cannot stop.”
A. N. Whitehead, 1925
Technological Skep?cism
SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS:
Technological Skep?cism
SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS:
• What is technology?
Technological Skep?cism
SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS:
• What is technology?
• What is its purpose?
Technological Skep?cism
SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS:
• What is technology?
• What is its purpose?
• Does it increase, or decrease, overall human well-‐being?
Technological Skep?cism
SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS:
• What is technology?
• What is its purpose?
• Does it increase, or decrease, overall human well-‐being?
• Where is it heading?
Technological Skep?cism
SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS:
• What is technology?
• What is its purpose?
• Does it increase, or decrease, overall human well-‐being?
• Where is it heading?
• Do we control it?
Technological Skep?cism
SOME FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS:
• What is technology? • What is its purpose? • Does it increase, or decrease, overall human well-‐being?
• Where is it heading? • Do we control it? • Might it threaten our very existence?
*****************
What can we learn from the Unabomber?
Peter Ludlow, Northwestern U.
What can we learn from the Unabomber?
Nothing.
But…
But…
This doesn’t mean our technological system is benign.
and…
and…
This doesn’t mean radical measures aren’t called for.
It means…
It means…
The Unabomber is not the go to guy for answers.
The Plan
The Plan
1) Why the Unabomber Manifesto is Weak
The Plan
1) Why the Unabomber Manifesto is Weak 2) Why the Unabomber Manifesto is Wrong
The Plan
1) Why the Unabomber Manifesto is Weak 2) Why the Unabomber Manifesto is Wrong
3) What is a Be^er Cri?que?
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