The criticism of science and technology that emerged in the 1960s took many forms, from gentle suggestions for change to calls for revolution. The Manifesto written by the so-call "Unabomber" falls into the category of calls for extreme action in response to what was seen as a corrupt society. Your reading for this week are the sections from the Unabomber manefesto dealing with science and technology:
11. THE MOTIVES OF SCIENTISTS
14. INDUSTRIAL-TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY CANNOT BE REFORMED
16. THE 'BAD' PARTS OF TECHNOLOGY CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM THE 'GOOD' PARTS
17. TECHNOLOGY IS A MORE POWERFUL SOCIAL FORCE THAN THE ASPIRATION FOR FREEDOM
Read
as well the reflection on the 1960s by Fritjof Kapra in Where
Have All the Flowers Gone?
Reflections on the Spirit and Legacy of the Sixties.
Come to class prepared to respond to the arguments and suggestions set out by
the Unibomber and to discuss why Kapra and others did not feel the same extreme
action were called for.
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