GRGR(12) some comments

[Cjhurtt6 at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/19/99 7:53:05 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
Lycidas at worldnet.att.net writes:

<< So
 Pynchon, and I think this is what he addresses in his
 Luddite essay, as pertains to computers and information,
 seems to agree with Plato's Thamus, that the "specialized
 knowledge" of the masters of (a new technology for example)
 are mistakenly understood as wisdoms, the masters wise. Of
 course the masters believe this as well. The result is that
 certain questions can not be asked, by the preterite
 (losers), indeed certain critical questions do not arise.
 For example, "To whom, Mr. President Gates,  will this new
 technology give greater freedom? And whose power and freedom
 will be reduced by it?"  >>
i agree with this,but, i do have a question. i'm not all that hip on 
philosophy so i could be wrong here, but wasn't it plato that said something 
along the lines of slavery will end when we make machines that work all on 
their own? the more automated the work place the less work people have to 
do...no work=freedom. 
 i  don't see how one could say the masters power could not last if their 
technology led to automation and at the same time say they would maintain 
that power. something i'm over looking? personally i don't think technology 
leads to freedom. when i was in school(industrial design major) i got to see 
all kinds of tech goodies...."meet the new boss same as the old boss."