Date: Wed, 10 Feb 1999 14:14:49 -0800
From: Doug Keachie <keachie-AT-swland.org>
Subject: Re: Totalitarian/Authoritarian/Democratic Technics




Lev Lafayette wrote:

> >
> David,
>
> Your comments on the partial applicationof technology revives structure over
> agency, and indeed, suggests that it is explicit in many technologies. Indeed,
> most technologies seem designed for specific rather than general purposes.
>
> Nonetheless, the totalising aspect of technology is very strong. Despite
> specific uses, the general tendancy is for technologies to expand in scale and
> scope; more power, greater efficiency and so on. There is a general tendancy to
> totality in that sense, of which romantic non/partial technological fantasies
> cannot withstand the relentless (and some would say tragic) march of modernity.
>
> Keep in mind I am actually very fond of these romantic partial technology
> fantasies. My favourite poem is William Blake's 'Jerusalem'; I am particularly
> endeared by how for many years the French refused to adopt the first modern
> communications system (the telegraph) over the last and greatest pre-modern
> system; semaphore. I'd probably prefer the latter to the Internet, but look
> where we are.

Yes, indeed !  It is rather hard to see semaphores beyond the curve of the planet, a scant
40 km or so away in all directions.

Keachie



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