Interesting points. I think it is important to note that society encompasses a much larger group than those who are technically knowledgeable. The technologically endowed part of society is, I believe, moving toward a world-view similar to what you describe. Part of this is a certain status quo whereby the "big ideas" that were fought over in the past are no longer in question (cf. Fukuyama). It's a satisfactory situation for
folks in segments of society that are self-sufficient such as the computer-literate but cannot (IMHO) be long-lived. There are stresses in the whole of society that will rear their heads sooner or later-poverty, the state of the 3rd world, over-population,etc.
One can, perhaps, not be personally
affected by these over the course of a lifetime or even a generation (if you live in Silicon Valley for instance) but it's not a world that will remain that way forever. I think a better analogy with past social changes is provided by thinking about the revolutions of 1848. A stable contented status quo that never really dealt with the issues raised in part by the French Revolution was imposed-as seen by a select few.
I am quite delighted by the advances in our society via information, technology, and communication, but I think we should be a little less navel-focused.
Slashdot Mirror
Interesting points. I think it is important to note that society encompasses a much larger group than those who are technically knowledgeable. The technologically endowed part of society is, I believe, moving toward a world-view similar to what you describe. Part of this is a certain status quo whereby the "big ideas" that were fought over in the past are no longer in question (cf. Fukuyama). It's a satisfactory situation for folks in segments of society that are self-sufficient such as the computer-literate but cannot (IMHO) be long-lived. There are stresses in the whole of society that will rear their heads sooner or later-poverty, the state of the 3rd world, over-population,etc. One can, perhaps, not be personally affected by these over the course of a lifetime or even a generation (if you live in Silicon Valley for instance) but it's not a world that will remain that way forever. I think a better analogy with past social changes is provided by thinking about the revolutions of 1848. A stable contented status quo that never really dealt with the issues raised in part by the French Revolution was imposed-as seen by a select few. I am quite delighted by the advances in our society via information, technology, and communication, but I think we should be a little less navel-focused.