What Technology Wants (57 page)
Read What Technology Wants Online
Authors: Kevin Kelly
194 “the mind-forg'd manacles”:
William Blake. (1984) “London.”
Songs of Experience
, New York: Courier Dover Publications, p. 37.
William Blake. (1984) “London.”
Songs of Experience
, New York: Courier Dover Publications, p. 37.
194 “changing our habits of mind”:
Neil Postman. (1994)
The Disappearance of Childhood
. New York: Vintage Books, p. 24.
Neil Postman. (1994)
The Disappearance of Childhood
. New York: Vintage Books, p. 24.
195 50,000 per year:
John H. Lawton and Robert M. May. (1995)
Extinction Rates.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
John H. Lawton and Robert M. May. (1995)
Extinction Rates.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
196 the future with a short distance:
Paul Saffo. (2008) “Embracing Uncertainty: The Secret to Effective Forecasting.” Seminars About Long-term Thinking. San Francisco: The Long Now Foundation.
http://www.longnow.org/seminars/02008/jan/11/embracing-uncertainty-the-secret-to-effective-forecasting/
.
Paul Saffo. (2008) “Embracing Uncertainty: The Secret to Effective Forecasting.” Seminars About Long-term Thinking. San Francisco: The Long Now Foundation.
http://www.longnow.org/seminars/02008/jan/11/embracing-uncertainty-the-secret-to-effective-forecasting/
.
196 some kind of consequence of that:
Kevin Kelly and Paula Parisi. (1997) “Beyond Star Wars: What's Next for George Lucas.”
Wired
, 5 (2).
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/5.02/fflucas.html
.
Kevin Kelly and Paula Parisi. (1997) “Beyond Star Wars: What's Next for George Lucas.”
Wired
, 5 (2).
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/5.02/fflucas.html
.
197 “they may never acknowledge the void”:
Langdon Winner. (1977)
Autonomous Technology: Technics-Out-of-Control as a Theme in Political Thought.
Cambridge: MIT Press, p. 34.
Langdon Winner. (1977)
Autonomous Technology: Technics-Out-of-Control as a Theme in Political Thought.
Cambridge: MIT Press, p. 34.
197 “self-respecting members of the former”:
Eric Brende. (2004)
Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology.
New York: HarperCollins, p. 229.
Eric Brende. (2004)
Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology.
New York: HarperCollins, p. 229.
198 not by ideology but by technical necessity:
Theodore Kaczynski. (1995) “Industrial Society and Its Future.”
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Industrial_Society_and_Its_Future
.
Theodore Kaczynski. (1995) “Industrial Society and Its Future.”
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Industrial_Society_and_Its_Future
.
201 civilization would collapse by 2020:
Kevin Kelly. (1995) “Interview with the Luddite.”
Wired
, 3 (6).
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.06/saleskelly.html
.
Kevin Kelly. (1995) “Interview with the Luddite.”
Wired
, 3 (6).
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/3.06/saleskelly.html
.
201 readings focused on the theme called
Against Civilization
:
John Zerzan. (2005)
Against Civilization: Readings and Reflections.
Los Angeles: Feral House.
Against Civilization
:
John Zerzan. (2005)
Against Civilization: Readings and Reflections.
Los Angeles: Feral House.
201 gas lines and the information infrastructure:
Derrick Jensen. (2006)
Endgame, Vol. 2: Resistance
. New York: Seven Stories Press.
Derrick Jensen. (2006)
Endgame, Vol. 2: Resistance
. New York: Seven Stories Press.
201 “reductions in freedom”:
Theodore Kaczynski. (1995) “Industrial Society and Its Future.”
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Industrial_Society_and_Its_Future
.
Theodore Kaczynski. (1995) “Industrial Society and Its Future.”
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Industrial_Society_and_Its_Future
.
202 “defeatism, guilt, self-hatred, etc.”:
Ibid.
Ibid.
202 “There was even a waterfall there”:
Theresa Kintz. (1999) “Interview with Ted Kaczynski.”
Green Anarchist
(57/58).
http://www.insurgentdesire.org.uk/tedk.htm
.
Theresa Kintz. (1999) “Interview with Ted Kaczynski.”
Green Anarchist
(57/58).
http://www.insurgentdesire.org.uk/tedk.htm
.
202 “that sort of thing became a priority for me”:
Ibid.
Ibid.
204 find themselves FORCED to use it:
Theodore Kaczynski. (1995) “Industrial Society and Its Future.”
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Industrial_Society_and_Its_Future
.
Theodore Kaczynski. (1995) “Industrial Society and Its Future.”
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Industrial_Society_and_Its_Future
.
205 no rational and effective public resistance:
Ibid.
Ibid.
206 eventually wipe out all of our freedom:
Ibid.
Ibid.
207 Inside the Unabomber's Shack:
Federal Bureau of Investigation photograph via (2008) “Unabom Case: The Unabomber's Cabin.”
http://cbs5.com/slideshows/unabom.unabomber.exclusive.20.433402.html
.
Federal Bureau of Investigation photograph via (2008) “Unabom Case: The Unabomber's Cabin.”
http://cbs5.com/slideshows/unabom.unabomber.exclusive.20.433402.html
.
210 “strong health and robusticity”:
Green Anarchy. (n.d.) “An Introduction to AntiCivilization Anarchist Thought and Practice.” Green Anarchy Back to Basics (4).
http://www.greenanarchy.org/index.php?action=viewwritingdetail&writingId=283
.
Green Anarchy. (n.d.) “An Introduction to AntiCivilization Anarchist Thought and Practice.” Green Anarchy Back to Basics (4).
http://www.greenanarchy.org/index.php?action=viewwritingdetail&writingId=283
.
210 “a few of its devastating derivatives”:
Ibid.
Ibid.
210 “thousands and tens of thousands of years”:
Derrick Jensen. (2009) In discussion with the author.
Derrick Jensen. (2009) In discussion with the author.
212 “any radicals facing up to”:
Theresa Kintz. (1999) “Interview with Ted Kaczynski.”
Green Anarchist
(57-58).
http://www.insurgentdesire.org.uk/tedk.htm
.
11. Lessons of Amish HackersTheresa Kintz. (1999) “Interview with Ted Kaczynski.”
Green Anarchist
(57-58).
http://www.insurgentdesire.org.uk/tedk.htm
.
225 adopted by the rest of America:
Stephen Scott. (1990)
Living Without Electricity: People's Place Book No. 9
. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.
Stephen Scott. (1990)
Living Without Electricity: People's Place Book No. 9
. Intercourse, PA: Good Books.
228 a tale he recounts in his book:
Eric Brende. (2004)
Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology
. New York: HarperCollins.
Eric Brende. (2004)
Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology
. New York: HarperCollins.
229 “I am satisfied”:
Wendell Berry. (1982)
The Gift of Good Land: Further Essays Cultural & Agricultural
. San Francisco: North Point Press.
Wendell Berry. (1982)
The Gift of Good Land: Further Essays Cultural & Agricultural
. San Francisco: North Point Press.
232 âStart your own business'”:
Stewart Brand. (1995, March 1) “We Owe It All to the Hippies.”
Time
, 145 (12).
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,982602,000.html
.
Stewart Brand. (1995, March 1) “We Owe It All to the Hippies.”
Time
, 145 (12).
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,982602,000.html
.
234 more work, but not better:
Wendell Berry. (1982)
The Gift of Good Land: Further Essays Cultural & Agricultural.
San Francisco: North Point Press, p. 180.
Wendell Berry. (1982)
The Gift of Good Land: Further Essays Cultural & Agricultural.
San Francisco: North Point Press, p. 180.
236 “to imagine being somebody else”:
Brink Lindsey. (2007)
The Age of Abundance: How Prosperity Transformed America's Politics and Culture
. New York: HarperBusiness, p. 4.
Brink Lindsey. (2007)
The Age of Abundance: How Prosperity Transformed America's Politics and Culture
. New York: HarperBusiness, p. 4.
237 “doesn't quite work yet”:
W. Daniel Hillis. (2009) In discussion with the author.
12. Seeking ConvivialityW. Daniel Hillis. (2009) In discussion with the author.
239 “master what the human mind has made?”:
Langdon Winner. (1977)
Autonomous Technology: Technics-Out-of-Control as a Theme in Political Thought.
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, p. 13.
Langdon Winner. (1977)
Autonomous Technology: Technics-Out-of-Control as a Theme in Political Thought.
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, p. 13.
241 Duration of Prohibitions:
Data compiled from research gathered by Michele McGinnis and Kevin Kelly in 2004; originally presented at
http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2006/02/the_futility_of.php
.
Data compiled from research gathered by Michele McGinnis and Kevin Kelly in 2004; originally presented at
http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2006/02/the_futility_of.php
.
242 “in the defense of fortifications and on ships”:
David Bachrach. (2003) “The Royal Crossbow Makers of England, 1204-1272.”
Nottingham Medieval Studies
(47).
David Bachrach. (2003) “The Royal Crossbow Makers of England, 1204-1272.”
Nottingham Medieval Studies
(47).
243 numerals in their accounts:
Bernhard J. Stern. (1937) “Resistances to the Adoption of Technological Innovations.” Report of the Subcommittee on Technology to the National Resources Committee.
Bernhard J. Stern. (1937) “Resistances to the Adoption of Technological Innovations.” Report of the Subcommittee on Technology to the National Resources Committee.
243 increasing at 9 percent per year globally:
Applications International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech. (2008) “Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/Gm Crops: 2008; The First Thirteen Years, 1996 to 2008.” ISAAA Brief 39-2008: Executive Summary.
http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/39/executivesummary/default.html
.
Applications International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech. (2008) “Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/Gm Crops: 2008; The First Thirteen Years, 1996 to 2008.” ISAAA Brief 39-2008: Executive Summary.
http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/39/executivesummary/default.html
.
243 increasing globally by 2 percent a year:
International Atomic Energy Agency. (2007) “Nuclear Power Worldwide: Status and Outlook.” International Atomic Energy Agency.
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/PressReleases/2007/prn200719.html
.
International Atomic Energy Agency. (2007) “Nuclear Power Worldwide: Status and Outlook.” International Atomic Energy Agency.
http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/PressReleases/2007/prn200719.html
.
243 peaked at 65,000 units in 1986 and is now at 20,000:
National Resources Defense Council. (2002) “Table of Global Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles, 1945-2002.”
http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/nudb/datab19.asp
.
National Resources Defense Council. (2002) “Table of Global Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles, 1945-2002.”
http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/nudb/datab19.asp
.
247 “to prevent environmental degradation”:
United Nations Environment Program. (1992) “Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.” Rio de Janeiro: United Nations Environment Program.
http://www.unep.org/Documents.multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=78&ArticleID=1163
.
United Nations Environment Program. (1992) “Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.” Rio de Janeiro: United Nations Environment Program.
http://www.unep.org/Documents.multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=78&ArticleID=1163
.
247 such as Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco:
Lawrence A. Kogan. (2008) “The Extra-WTO Precautionary Principle: One European âFashion' Export the United States Can Do Without.”
Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review
, 17 (2). p. 497.
http://www.itssd.org/Kogan%2017%5B1%5D.2.pdf
.
Lawrence A. Kogan. (2008) “The Extra-WTO Precautionary Principle: One European âFashion' Export the United States Can Do Without.”
Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review
, 17 (2). p. 497.
http://www.itssd.org/Kogan%2017%5B1%5D.2.pdf
.
247 “it leads in no direction at all”:
Cass Sunstein. (2005)
Laws of Fear: Beyond the Precautionary Principle.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 14.
Cass Sunstein. (2005)
Laws of Fear: Beyond the Precautionary Principle.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 14.
248 DDT around the insides of homes:
Lawrence Kogan. (2004) “âEnlightened' Environmentalism or Disguised Protectionism? Assessing the Impact of EU Precaution-Based Standards on Developing Countries,” p. 17.
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/posp47_nftc_enlightened_e.pdf
.
Lawrence Kogan. (2004) “âEnlightened' Environmentalism or Disguised Protectionism? Assessing the Impact of EU Precaution-Based Standards on Developing Countries,” p. 17.
http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/posp47_nftc_enlightened_e.pdf
.
248 EU agreed to phase out DDT altogether:
Tina Rosenberg. (2004, April 11) “What the World Needs Now Is DDT.”
New York Times
.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/11/magazine/what-the-world-needs-now-is-ddt.html
.
Tina Rosenberg. (2004, April 11) “What the World Needs Now Is DDT.”
New York Times
.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/11/magazine/what-the-world-needs-now-is-ddt.html
.
249 “carried away in a single night”:
Richard Rhodes. (1999)
Visions of Technology: A Century of Vital Debate About Machines, Systems, and the Human World
. New York: Simon & Schuster, p. 145.
Richard Rhodes. (1999)
Visions of Technology: A Century of Vital Debate About Machines, Systems, and the Human World
. New York: Simon & Schuster, p. 145.
250 “hidden paths in the systems”:
Charles Perrow. (1999)
Normal Accidents: Living with High-Risk Technologies.
Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press, p. 11.
Charles Perrow. (1999)
Normal Accidents: Living with High-Risk Technologies.
Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press, p. 11.
251 “totally unlike the world we now inhabit”:
Langdon Winner. (1977)
Autonomous Technology: Technics-Out-of-Control as a Theme in Political Thought.
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, p. 98.
Langdon Winner. (1977)
Autonomous Technology: Technics-Out-of-Control as a Theme in Political Thought.
Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, p. 98.
252 imagined a horseless carriage:
Arthur C. Clarke. (1984)
Profiles of the Future
. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Arthur C. Clarke. (1984)
Profiles of the Future
. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
252 subsets of technologies that permeate society:
M. Rodemeyer, D. Sarewitz, et al. (2005)
The Future of Technology Assessment.
Washington, D.C.: The Wood-row Wilson International Center.
M. Rodemeyer, D. Sarewitz, et al. (2005)
The Future of Technology Assessment.
Washington, D.C.: The Wood-row Wilson International Center.
253
eternally provisional:
Stewart Brand. (2009)
Whole Earth Discipline.
New York: Viking, p. 164.
eternally provisional:
Stewart Brand. (2009)
Whole Earth Discipline.
New York: Viking, p. 164.
253 but with any luck it works:
Edward Tenner. (1996)
Why Things Bite Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences
. New York: Knopf, p. 277.
Edward Tenner. (1996)
Why Things Bite Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences
. New York: Knopf, p. 277.
255 radical transhumanist, in 2004:
Max More. (2005) “The Proactionary Principle.”
http://www.maxmore.com/proactionary.htm
.
Max More. (2005) “The Proactionary Principle.”
http://www.maxmore.com/proactionary.htm
.
256 “overweighting human-technological risks”:
Ibid.
Ibid.
261 moratorium on all nanotechnological research:
James Hughes. (2007) “Global Technology Regulation and Potentially Apocalyptic Technological Threats.”
Nanoethics: The Ethical and Social Implications of Nanotechnology,
ed. Fritz Allhoff. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Interscience.
James Hughes. (2007) “Global Technology Regulation and Potentially Apocalyptic Technological Threats.”
Nanoethics: The Ethical and Social Implications of Nanotechnology,
ed. Fritz Allhoff. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Interscience.
261 used in antimicrobial coatings:
Dietram A. Scheufele. (2009) “Bund Wants Ban of Nanosilver in Everyday Applications.”
http://nanopublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/bund-wants-ban-of-nanosilver-in.html
; Wiebe E. Bijker, Thomas P. Hughes, et al. (1989)
The Social Construction of Technological Systems
. Cambridge, MA: MIT.
Dietram A. Scheufele. (2009) “Bund Wants Ban of Nanosilver in Everyday Applications.”
http://nanopublic.blogspot.com/2009/12/bund-wants-ban-of-nanosilver-in.html
; Wiebe E. Bijker, Thomas P. Hughes, et al. (1989)
The Social Construction of Technological Systems
. Cambridge, MA: MIT.
264 were destructive no matter who ran them:
Ivan Illich. (1973)
Tools for Conviviality.
New York: Harper & Row.
13. Technology's TrajectoriesIvan Illich. (1973)
Tools for Conviviality.
New York: Harper & Row.
275 equally inadequate in real life:
Seth Lloyd. (2006)
Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes on the Cosmos.
New York: Knopf.
Seth Lloyd. (2006)
Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes on the Cosmos.
New York: Knopf.
275 any direction to evolution whatsoever:
Stephen Jay Gould. (1989)
Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and Nature of History.
New York: W. W. Norton.
Stephen Jay Gould. (1989)
Wonderful Life: The Burgess Shale and Nature of History.
New York: W. W. Norton.
275 display effective complexity:
Seth Lloyd. (2006)
Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes on the Cosmos.
New York: Knopf, p. 199.
Seth Lloyd. (2006)
Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes on the Cosmos.
New York: Knopf, p. 199.
275 “the cosmological origins of biology”:
James Gardner. (2003)
Biocosm: The New Scientific Theory of Evolution.
Makawao Maui, HI: Inner Ocean.
James Gardner. (2003)
Biocosm: The New Scientific Theory of Evolution.
Makawao Maui, HI: Inner Ocean.
276 transitions in organic evolution:
John Maynard Smith and Eors Szathmary. (1997)
The Major Transitions in Evolution.
New York: Oxford University Press.
John Maynard Smith and Eors Szathmary. (1997)
The Major Transitions in Evolution.
New York: Oxford University Press.
277 Each step was also irreversible:
John Maynard Smith and Eors Szathmary. (1997)
The Major Transitions in Evolution
. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 9.
John Maynard Smith and Eors Szathmary. (1997)
The Major Transitions in Evolution
. New York: Oxford University Press, p. 9.
278 Complexity of Software:
Data from Vincent Maraia. (2005)
The Build Master: Microsoft's Software Configuration Management Best Practices
. Upper Saddle River, NJ; Addison-Wesley Professional.
Data from Vincent Maraia. (2005)
The Build Master: Microsoft's Software Configuration Management Best Practices
. Upper Saddle River, NJ; Addison-Wesley Professional.
279 Vista contained 50 million lines of code:
Vincent Maraia. (2005)
The Build Master: Microsoft's Software Configuration Management Best Practices.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Addison-Wesley Professional.
Vincent Maraia. (2005)
The Build Master: Microsoft's Software Configuration Management Best Practices.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Addison-Wesley Professional.
279 Complexity of Manufactured Machines:
Data from Robert U. Ayres. (1991)
Computer Integrated Manufacturing: Revolution in Progress
. London: Chapman & Hall, p. 3.
Data from Robert U. Ayres. (1991)
Computer Integrated Manufacturing: Revolution in Progress
. London: Chapman & Hall, p. 3.
281 say a UNIX kernel:
W. Daniel Hillis. (2007) In discussion with the author.
W. Daniel Hillis. (2007) In discussion with the author.
282 varieties of stable elements were created:
George Wallerstein, Icko Iben, et al. (1997) “Synthesis of the Elements in Stars: Forty Years of Progress.
Reviews of Modern Physics
, 69 (4), p. 1053.
http://link.aps.org/abstract/R
MP/v69/p995 .10.1103/RevModPhys.69.995.
George Wallerstein, Icko Iben, et al. (1997) “Synthesis of the Elements in Stars: Forty Years of Progress.
Reviews of Modern Physics
, 69 (4), p. 1053.
http://link.aps.org/abstract/R
MP/v69/p995 .10.1103/RevModPhys.69.995.
283 mineral species we find today:
Robert M. Hazen, Dominic Papineau, et al. (2008) “Mineral Evolution.”
American Mineralogist,
93 (11/12).
http://ammin.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/11-12/1693
.
Robert M. Hazen, Dominic Papineau, et al. (2008) “Mineral Evolution.”
American Mineralogist,
93 (11/12).
http://ammin.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/93/11-12/1693
.
283 only 200 million years ago:
Dale A. Russell. (1995) “Biodiversity and Time Scales for the Evolution of Extraterrestrial Intelligence.”
Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series
(74).
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1995ASPC
... 74..143R.
Dale A. Russell. (1995) “Biodiversity and Time Scales for the Evolution of Extraterrestrial Intelligence.”
Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series
(74).
http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1995ASPC
... 74..143R.
283 Total Diversity of Life:
J. John Sepkoski. (1993) “Ten Years in the Library: New Data Confirm Paleontological Patterns.”
Paleobiology
, 19 (1), p. 48.
J. John Sepkoski. (1993) “Ten Years in the Library: New Data Confirm Paleontological Patterns.”
Paleobiology
, 19 (1), p. 48.
284 articles has exploded in the last 50 years:
Stephen Hawking. (2001)
The Universe in a Nutshell.
New York: Bantam Books, p. 158.
Stephen Hawking. (2001)
The Universe in a Nutshell.
New York: Bantam Books, p. 158.
284 seven million patents issued in the United States alone:
Brigid Quinn and Ruth Nyblod. (2006) “United States Patent and Trademark Office Issues 7 Millionth Patent.” United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Brigid Quinn and Ruth Nyblod. (2006) “United States Patent and Trademark Office Issues 7 Millionth Patent.” United States Patent and Trademark Office.
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