FutureAnimal

For as much as we might wish to, we cannot un-invent things. The popularity of a given product or technology may wane due to fashion or regulation; they may be “lost” or “forgotten” because something better takes their place, but inventions address a need, they solve a problem and so seem to persist. Vinyl records and vinyl jackets will probably always live on, for better or worse, even as they are eclipsed by bits streaming down from the Cloud and Gore-tex.

Which really isn’t the point. The point is we can’t go back to a time when we didn’t have recorded music or clothing made out of synthetic materials. We also can’t go back to a time when we didn’t have cars or microwaves or smartphones.

One of my main rants is that technology can unfortunately replace almost every form of effort that humans can engage in. Since there’s not really a biological force that notices this and says, “Whoa, pony! Let’s not use that labor-saving device!” we end up indiscriminately letting technology solve every problem we have; whether for survival, convenience or entertainment.

A Luddite might rail against technology and sabotage manufacturing (for all the reasons that we think Luddites did this but actually didn’t). A common-sense approach might be to emphasize the tenets of adequate physical exercise and moderation in consuming all things. A philosopher might illuminate and encourage greater discernment between things that truly enrich our lives and help us achieve a greater, fuller expression of our humanity and those things that merely amplify our fears and reassure our own ignorance, comfort and status.

But as I’ve hinted, the Luddites would fail. And moderation is for chumps (until we change the culture). And philosophy is stuffy and boring (even though it isn’t: people just don’t recognize when they’re doing it or watching it in action).

My perspective now is that since technological “progress” is inexorable, we might simply find ourselves these days in an uncanny valley: technology is good enough to give us nearly everything we want, but at the cost of our long-term animal needs like musculoskeletal health, good sleep habits and a liver and pancreas that are not waging open rebellion. It feels a little risky, but my bet is on better, more insightful design and more developed technology that allows us to be the human animals we are without needing to go backwards in time.