GRGR(12) some comments

Terrance F. Flaherty Lycidas at worldnet.att.net
Tue Oct 19 19:20:11 CDT 1999


Cjhurtt6 at aol.com wrote:
> 
> 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 think you want Plato's partner in crime, Aristotle here. 

>  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. 
This is an interesting question. A great question to ask
about Aristotle. An important issue I think in M&D in
particular. How does Aristotle deal with this apparent
paradox? Reason, is the short answer, and of course for
Aristotle some men are by nature slaves. 

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."


I think Plato gets it right, btw, Plato's view of slavery is
not much more appealing than Aristotle's, in that the
decision to permit a technology to enter the culture, must
be made before it does so, after its introduced, it's too
late.



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