MIT Technology Review on Where Orwell Went Wrong

nakhla writes "MIT's Technology Review is running an interesting article entitled Who's Afraid of 1984? The article talks about Orwell's famous work, and examines how Orwell's view of technology's impact on freedom and democracy was flawed. The article points out that, in fact, freedom and democracy were strengthened by technological innovations, and addresses its affect on Stalinism and Nazism. An interestng read for those who are worried about technology's impact on our generation and beyond."

Comments

Re:So far...

[PMuse]

So far, the only thing we know for certain that Orwell was wrong about was the year.

I. Such an argument proves nothing because it is incapable of refutation. One can always say, "Just wait a little longer, it'll all come true." How many decades must we go until we admit that this dystopia is being avoided? One? Two?

II. If Orwell had been making predictions (instead of critiquing society by metaphor), then it makes as much sense to say that "the only thing we know for certain is that Orwell was right about the year."

And wrong about everything else. That is, a year called 1984 did come to pass, but all (or most of) the rest did not happen.

III. What basis is there begin from the presumption that a prophet is right? None. Instead, we disbelieve prophets until their predictions begin to prove out. Any tendancy to believe prognosticators are usually right time comes from the fact that most prophets who are wrong are quickly forgotten while the right ones are lauded and remembered.