Yes, that’s a good question. I probably shouldn’t use the word “Luddite”. People who are actually against technology, who think that on net a certain technology is bad for the world, are totally sane, I think. They might know more than me, they could be right, especially about AI. I’m more critical of the people who just dismiss AI by saying something like, “You can’t have a human-like mind in silicon.” I think those people are just being at best naive at worst wilfully ignorant.
Yeah, that makes sense. I think you draw an important distinction here. In general, it seems to me that the actual history of Luddism is often misconstrued. David Noble's work on the topic helped clarify a lot of things for me.
This conflict about doing vs. being you bring up is pretty central to a great essay by Arthur Koestler called The Yogi and the Commissar. You seem to be leaning very hard into the direction of the commissar, but I think the real ideal is the Jedi Knight, the union of the Yogi and the Commissar, a zen mind and yet very capable of acting upon the world.
Thanks for the comment! I’ll have to check out that essay. I’ve read a few things by Koestler over the years, always impressive. I definitely lean to the pragmatist side of things which emphasises doing...
I smell a rat in this. You seem to be a deep thinker and I'm not the most careful reader, but I dont think youve achieved the answer whereas I claim that I already have. As I see it your quadrant is oversimplified. If it is true that one of your major concerns is whether humans are the centre of the universe, why not have both? Kindness to all animals AND #livingmodelling where the human is still enabled to achieve his potential. What are your views on domestic antinatalism, veganism and ad hominem kindness to others? If you have a problem with these, it's most likely you have a problem with your own conscience, which you will have to deal with first.
This is my first, probably naive comment on your work. I hope you'll forgive me if I was not careful enough.
What is your main problem with the "luddite mentality"? Perhaps this is something to address in a future post...
Yes, that’s a good question. I probably shouldn’t use the word “Luddite”. People who are actually against technology, who think that on net a certain technology is bad for the world, are totally sane, I think. They might know more than me, they could be right, especially about AI. I’m more critical of the people who just dismiss AI by saying something like, “You can’t have a human-like mind in silicon.” I think those people are just being at best naive at worst wilfully ignorant.
And thank you for featuring me on your Substack!
For sure - it was a very helpful article! Glad you synthesized all of this here in one place.
Yeah, that makes sense. I think you draw an important distinction here. In general, it seems to me that the actual history of Luddism is often misconstrued. David Noble's work on the topic helped clarify a lot of things for me.
This conflict about doing vs. being you bring up is pretty central to a great essay by Arthur Koestler called The Yogi and the Commissar. You seem to be leaning very hard into the direction of the commissar, but I think the real ideal is the Jedi Knight, the union of the Yogi and the Commissar, a zen mind and yet very capable of acting upon the world.
Perhaps that is the Gryffindor quadrant?
Thanks for the comment! I’ll have to check out that essay. I’ve read a few things by Koestler over the years, always impressive. I definitely lean to the pragmatist side of things which emphasises doing...
To me there's nothing more tedious than having a worldview that is articulated, fixed and exhaustive. Excited to read this book Jamie!
(You can't see but I'm gesturing to some other book)
I smell a rat in this. You seem to be a deep thinker and I'm not the most careful reader, but I dont think youve achieved the answer whereas I claim that I already have. As I see it your quadrant is oversimplified. If it is true that one of your major concerns is whether humans are the centre of the universe, why not have both? Kindness to all animals AND #livingmodelling where the human is still enabled to achieve his potential. What are your views on domestic antinatalism, veganism and ad hominem kindness to others? If you have a problem with these, it's most likely you have a problem with your own conscience, which you will have to deal with first.
This is my first, probably naive comment on your work. I hope you'll forgive me if I was not careful enough.