Technology Guilt

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Technology Guilt

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Steve Jones - SSC Editor

Posted Thursday, June 14, 2012 9:39 PM

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Comments posted to this topic are about the item Technology Guilt

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Post #1316278

davoscollective

Posted Thursday, June 14, 2012 11:20 PM

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"It seemed to be a capitalist market idea that change will occur, new industries will arise as old ones die"

Interestingly, this idea is called "Creative Destruction" and actually comes from Marxist literature.

The relevant capitalist economic theory is that technology innovations are by far the largest driver of growth (see the Solow model).

We are at the forefront of technology and so we are driving growth and all of the side effects of economic growth especially higher standards of living.

This guilt goes right back to the beginning of the industrial revolution and the Luddites. The basic summary is that technological unemployment is only temporary and is often referred to as the "Luddite Fallacy" after the original weavers in England destroyed the looms in protest of being replaced by unskilled machine operators.
Alex Tabarrok, a co-author of one of my old textbooks said it well "If the Luddite fallacy were true we would all be out of work because productivity has been increasing for two centuries".

Nothing to be guilty about, plenty to be proud about.

Post #1316295

luke.warneminde

Posted Thursday, June 14, 2012 11:46 PM

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the original weavers in England destroyed the looms in protest of being replaced by unskilled machine operators.

Another story has the workers in the Netherlands throwing their sabots (shoes) into the gears of the looms, giving us...sabotage.

I agree, I feel no guilt for improving efficiency. The more repetitive, simple jobs that get automated out of existence, the more new opportunities appear.

Post #1316304

davoscollective

Posted Friday, June 15, 2012 12:01 AM

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luke.warneminde (6/14/2012)

the original weavers in England destroyed the looms in protest of being replaced by unskilled machine operators.

Another story has the workers in the Netherlands throwing their sabots (shoes) into the gears of the looms, giving us...sabotage.

I love that sort of trivia :)

Maybe the expression "spanner in the works" might have been "sabot in the works"

Post #1316309

Chris Cradock

Posted Friday, June 15, 2012 2:50 AM

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and that the first computer bug was a real bug....

Post #1316393

peter.heinicke

Posted Friday, June 15, 2012 2:51 AM

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I don't agree that technology has made life "better". More comfortable for some, easier, yes. The same can be achieved with slavery. What makes life better is a deeper connection with other people and with God. Only that can fill the hole inside people's hearts. Technology at best is a neutral means to an end.

Post #1316394

Chris Cradock

Posted Friday, June 15, 2012 3:02 AM

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So should the question be what do we do with all the people industry refuses to employ?

Post #1316404

Michael G

Posted Friday, June 15, 2012 3:19 AM

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I think change is inevitable, And for the greater good of mankind.
To ignore change is to get mired in the past, not something I would like if I work in a post about to become redundant.

Michael Gilchrist
Database Specialist
http://www.michael-gilchrist.com
There are 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those that don't. BigGrin

Post #1316416

IceDread

Posted Friday, June 15, 2012 3:20 AM

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First of all, I think a lot of jobs are being moved to countries where it cost less in several ways with employees because of salary, less health insurances and security of several sorts, employee security, building security etc.

I also believe that at some point in time there will be less needs from humans to work, who knows when, perhaps in 500 years or so because so much will be automated or handled by robots. Then the question comes up on wealth, what will happen to the working class that does not own a company or is a shareholder?

As of your question.
No I do not feel guilty.
I am however a human being and I can feel sorry for people affected but not guilty. Everyone is responsible for keeping themselves attractive on the market and in Sweden the companies themselves also has a responsibility here and the state also has a responsibility.

Nothing will ever stay as it is, everything changes. Everyone will have to deal with it or suffer the consequences.

Post #1316418

richardp-1113113

Posted Friday, June 15, 2012 4:19 AM

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To my mind, it is a good thing if technology allows us to become more efficient so we can get more done through less work. Ultimately it would be nice if this resulted in extended holidays or reduced working hours for everyone, without loss of pay. In the meantime, the government should help those who lose their jobs to re-train and to find work. It's not realistic to say everyone should do everything without any state assistance. It's not in the public interest for increasing numbers of people to be poor or unemployed, either costing money through welfare or in the worst cases drawn into drugs or crime.

Post #1316461

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