Why Wireless Internet at the Burrow is a Good Idea: In Praise of Technological Uselessness

Why WirelessWhy Wireless
Internet at theInternet at the
Burrow is a GoodBurrow is a Good
IdeaIdea
In Praise of TechnologicalIn Praise of Technological
UselessnessUselessness
Dr. Joel HunterDr. Joel Hunter
InfinitusInfinitus HPEF, Orlando, FLHPEF, Orlando, FL
July 2010July 2010

Technology = Magic?
Historical MagicHistorical Magic
ClarkeClarke’’s Third Laws Third Law
AnyAny sufficientlysufficiently advancedadvanced
technology istechnology is indistinguishableindistinguishable
from magic.from magic.

Technology = Magic?
NivenNiven’’ss LawLaw
Historical MagicHistorical Magic
ClarkeClarke’’s Third Laws Third Law

Niven’s Law
AnyAny sufficientlysufficiently rigorously defirigorously definedned magic ismagic is
indistinguishable from technologyindistinguishable from technology..
‘‘rigorously definedrigorously defined’’ == ‘‘rational andrational and
systematicsystematic’’

J. K. Rowling
I spent a lot of time inventing the rules for the magicalI spent a lot of time inventing the rules for the magical
world so that I knew the limits of magic. Then I had toworld so that I knew the limits of magic. Then I had to
invent the different ways wizards could accomplish certaininvent the different ways wizards could accomplish certain
thingsthings. (1999). (1999)
The five years I spent onThe five years I spent on HP and the PhilosopherHP and the Philosopher’’s Stones Stone
were spent constructing The Rules. (were spent constructing The Rules. (……) The most important) The most important
thing to decide when youthing to decide when you’’re creating a fantasy world is whatre creating a fantasy world is what
the characters CANthe characters CAN’’T do.T do. (2000)(2000)
I have to know in detail what magic can and cannot do inI have to know in detail what magic can and cannot do in
order to set the parameters and establish the storiesorder to set the parameters and establish the stories’’
internal logic.internal logic. (1998)(1998)
Source: Accio Quote!

Jacques Ellul
Technology is the totality (theTechnology is the totality (the
systematic unity) of allsystematic unity) of all
rationalizedrationalized methods of action.methods of action.
Rationalized means of action maximizeRationalized means of action maximize
efficiencyefficiency andand effectivenesseffectiveness
—La Technique, ou, l’enjeu du seicle (1954)
(The Technological Society, 1964)
1912-1994

Technology as a Social Force
TheThe ““one best meansone best means””——automatismautomatism
Applied to all fields of knowledge and allApplied to all fields of knowledge and all
areas of societyareas of society——universaluniversal
SelfSelf--augmentingaugmenting andand autonomousautonomous
Limited only by societyLimited only by society’’s level of technicals level of technical
developmentdevelopment

The Logic of Technology
If a technical possibilityIf a technical possibility cancan be developedbe developed……
ItIt mustmust be developedbe developed……
and appliedand applied……
……everywhere.everywhere.

Technology ≠ Tools
ValueValue--neutral assumptionneutral assumption
The technological principleThe technological principle doesdoes
imply values:imply values:
oo PracticalPractical
oo StateState--ofof--thethe--artart
oo SuccessfulSuccessful

Tools for Conviviality?
IvanIvan IllichIllich
ConvivialityConviviality: life together: life together
in peaceable, joyfulin peaceable, joyful
concord;concord; shalomshalom
1926-2002

Means and Ends
––””Paradise to be RegainedParadise to be Regained”” (1843)(1843)
ThoreauThoreau’’s Review ofs Review of
The Paradise Within Reach of All Men, WithoutThe Paradise Within Reach of All Men, Without
Labor, by Powers of Nature and Machinery: AnLabor, by Powers of Nature and Machinery: An
Address to All Intelligent MenAddress to All Intelligent Men (1842), by J. A.(1842), by J. A.
EtzlerEtzler

Means and Ends
Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau
All our inventions are butAll our inventions are but
improved means toimproved means to
unimproved ends.unimproved ends.
1817-1862

Education vs. Schooling
Hogwarts delivers technological instruction:Hogwarts delivers technological instruction:
schoolingschooling
TendencyTendency: to become a rational monopoly: to become a rational monopoly
Social EffectSocial Effect: the only authorized path to: the only authorized path to
knowledge, employment and social statusknowledge, employment and social status
within the systemwithin the system

I, who have gone further than anybody along the
path that leads to immortality. You know my goal
− to conquer death. And now, I was tested, and it
appeared that one or more of my experiments had
worked ... for I had not been killed, though the
curse should have done it.
—Goblet of Fire

Power
Technology ⇒ Invincibility

Greatness
Voldemort’s expression remained impassive as he said,
“Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns
lies. You must know this, Dumbledore.”
“You call it ‘greatness,’ what you have been doing, do you?”
asked Dumbledore delicately.
“Certainly,” said Voldemort, and his eyes seemed to burn red.
“I have experimented; I have pushed the boundaries of
magic further, perhaps, than they have ever been pushed—”
“Of some kinds of magic,” Dumbledore corrected him quietly.
“Of some. Of others, you remain…forgive me…woefully
ignorant.”

Greatness
Who will attain anythingWho will attain anything great if heif he
does not find in himself the strengthdoes not find in himself the strength
and the will to inflict great suffering?and the will to inflict great suffering?
Being able to suffer is the least thingBeing able to suffer is the least thing
((……). But not to perish of internal). But not to perish of internal
distress and uncertainty when onedistress and uncertainty when one
inflicts great suffering and hears theinflicts great suffering and hears the
cry of the sufferingcry of the suffering——that is great,
that belongs to greatness..
1825-1900

Greatness
He has doneHe has done great
thingsthings……terrible, yes, butterrible, yes, but
great..
 Laurence Peguy

“But I’m Not Voldemort!!!”
An Obvious Objection…

Oh, I had a few scruples. I assuaged my
conscience with empty words. It would all be for
the greater good, and any harm done would be
repaid a hundredfold in benefits for wizards.
And at the heart of our schemes, the Deathly
Hallows! (…) The unbeatable wand, the weapon
that would lead us to power! (…) the legend said
that the man who united all three objects would
then be truly master of death, which we took to
mean ‘invincible’.

“But I’m Not Voldemort!”

“But I’m Not Voldemort!”
Do I nurse the delusion of control andDo I nurse the delusion of control and
exercise it over others?exercise it over others?
Do I resent my limitations and pour energyDo I resent my limitations and pour energy
into defying them?into defying them?
Is my default posture to comply with whatIs my default posture to comply with what
technology recommends as best?technology recommends as best?

Which Technological Future is
the Real Danger?
The archThe arch--villain: architect of a social systemvillain: architect of a social system
that grinds the humanity out of us by brutethat grinds the humanity out of us by brute
force and terror?force and terror?

Which Technological Future is
the Real Danger?
The archThe arch--villain: architect of a social systemvillain: architect of a social system
that grinds the humanity out of us by brutethat grinds the humanity out of us by brute
force and terror?force and terror?
The wellThe well--meaning ,meaning , noblenoble--intentionedintentioned
improver of humanity whoseimprover of humanity whose ““solutionssolutions”” areare
applied to us for our own good?applied to us for our own good?

““ScienceScience
Discovers,Discovers,
Industry Applies,Industry Applies,
ManMan……..””

““ScienceScience
Discovers,Discovers,
Industry Applies,Industry Applies,
ManMan…….. ConformsConforms””

Evaluating Magic/Technology
1)1) Does it extinguish the free use of theDoes it extinguish the free use of the
natural abilities of the members of thenatural abilities of the members of the
society?society?
2)2) Does it isolate people from each otherDoes it isolate people from each other
and lock them into humanand lock them into human--made shells?made shells?
Illich’s 4 Questions of Conviviality

4)4) Does the acceleration of techniquesDoes the acceleration of techniques
(their complexity, power, etc.)(their complexity, power, etc.) enforceenforce
social change at a rate that rules outsocial change at a rate that rules out
cultural precedents for presentcultural precedents for present
behavior?behavior?
3)3) Does it promote extreme socialDoes it promote extreme social
polarization and splinteringpolarization and splintering
specialization within the community?specialization within the community?

Responsible Magic/Technology
Does the technology diminish orDoes the technology diminish or
increase conviviality?increase conviviality?
What are the social consequences if IWhat are the social consequences if I
am committed to this technology?am committed to this technology?

Further Reading
Wendell BerryWendell Berry
IvanIvan IllichIllich
JacquesJacques EllulEllul
The Technological SocietyThe Technological Society
Propaganda: The Formation of MenPropaganda: The Formation of Men’’s Attitudess Attitudes
The Technological BluffThe Technological Bluff

Why Wireless Internet at the Burrow is a Good Idea: In Praise of Technological Uselessness

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