Own Your Power Over Tech
Evan Selinger is a philosophy professor and author focused on the unique intersection of philosophy, technology, and privacy law. His work, which includes co-authoring the book Re-Engineering Humanity, helps people wrap their minds around the implications of our relationships with technology—a vision of where we are today and where we’re going—and he hopes to create an optimal future for us and for the generations to come. In our conversation, Evan shares the “meta-skill” of world-building, including our fundamental abilities of choice (free will) and a salvo for us to be more thoughtful about when and how we outsource our humanity to technology. Throughout, he displays a judicious eye for the ways our thoughts and blind spots, actions and inaction, end up shaping our world—and he encourages us to pause. This pause can come in the form of a mindful moment (“breathing room”) or simply the consideration of the full, weighty context of social and technological issues at play.
Show Notes
- Read more about American philosopher of science & technology Don Ihde
- Evan and Ben discuss outsourcing; here’s another example of outsourcing in the technological (not economic) sense
- David Chalmers on free will (and much more!)
- Read the book Ben mentioned, From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds by Daniel Dennett
- A wicked problem is a problem that is difficult or impossible to solve because of incomplete, contradictory, and changing requirements that are often difficult to recognize
- “The Unexpected Way Philosophy Majors Are Changing the World of Business“—more on philosophy, philosophical training (world-building), and its value to today’s business environment
- For more on “digital Taylorism,” see Evan and co-author Brett’s article, “Robots have already taken over our work, but they’re made of flesh and bone“
- And for pop culture…
- Check out Jo Nesbo’s Scandivanian thrillers
- If you haven’t watched Westworld yet on HBO—do!