"What We Can Learn From the Unabomber: Some Thoughts on the Metaphysical Basis of Modern Technology"
Philosophy and Religion Studies Departmental Colloquium
SPRING 2013
UNT Environmental Science Building, Room 125
3:30-5:00PM
THURSDAY, March 7: David Skrbina (skrbina@umd.umich.edu)
"What We Can Learn From the Unabomber: Some Thoughts on the Metaphysical Basis of Modern Technology"
Technology has been growing in power and scope with astonishing speed in recent decades, and has come to pervade much of our daily lives. The benefits are readily apparent, but less well known are many adverse consequences that are imposed upon us, society, and nature at large. Critics of technology have long warned us of these dangers, but only in recent years has the problem of technology become particularly acute. Perhaps the most infamous recent critic is Ted Kaczynski—the Unabomber. His 1995 manifesto outlines a powerful indictment of technology, and proposes a radical solution. In this talk, Dr. Skrbina will review Kaczynski’s key arguments, examine a few important objections, and then offer some speculative thoughts on the metaphysical basis for the power of technology.