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Technolgical Utopia

Don’t worry...be happy!Don’t worry...be happy!

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Technological Utopia

present current conditions as problems present current conditions as problems requiring a (human-constructed) solutionrequiring a (human-constructed) solution

present technologies as that solutionpresent technologies as that solution fail to discuss other solutions or downside to fail to discuss other solutions or downside to

proposed Utopiaproposed Utopia dismissive of possible problems, dismissive of possible problems,

implications, effects of technologyimplications, effects of technology

Not an assessment, but a demand for changeNot an assessment, but a demand for change

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Utopia Framework

Simple, easy-to-graspSimple, easy-to-grasp Reductionist à all social ills are amenable to Reductionist à all social ills are amenable to

human solutionhuman solution Either - project existing values and social Either - project existing values and social

order, ororder, or Reverse existing values, promote new orderReverse existing values, promote new order Either way à an ideological statementEither way à an ideological statement

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Development

Develop in specific social contextDevelop in specific social context

-- socially organized myths-- socially organized myths specific social aims/not always recognized, specific social aims/not always recognized,

intendedintended views of progressive social changeviews of progressive social change

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Technological Utopia

Universal (or near universal) benefits for all Universal (or near universal) benefits for all who participatewho participate

Broad scale and scope of benefits, not just a Broad scale and scope of benefits, not just a specific problemspecific problem

Usually long-term futureUsually long-term future

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Anti-Utopia (Dystopia)

bleakbleak loss of current values/worst magnifiedloss of current values/worst magnified humans lose controlhumans lose control