Technological Slavery

Description

Logical, lucid, and direct, Technological Slavery radically reinvigorates and reforms the intellectual foundations of an age-old and resurgent world-view: "Progress" is a myth. Wild nature and humanity are fundamentally incompatible with technological growth. In Technological Slavery, Kaczynski argues that: (i) the unfolding human and environmental crises are the direct, inevitable result of technology itself; (ii) many of the stresses endured in contemporary life are not normal to the human condition, but unique to technological conditions; (iii) wilderness and human life close to nature are realistic and supreme ideals; and, (iv) a revolution to eliminate modern technology and attain these ideals is necessary and far more achievable than would first appear. Drawing on a broad range of disciplines, Kaczynski weaves together a set of visionary social theories to form a revolutionary perspective on the dynamics of history and the evolution of societies. The result is a comprehensive challenge to the fundamental values and assumptions of the modern technology-driven world, pinning the cause of the rapidly unfolding catastrophe on technology itself, while offering a realistic hope for ultimate recovery. Cover Table of Contents Preface to the First and Second Editions Preface to the Revised and Expanded Edition Note on the Fourth Edition Letter to Scientific American Industrial Society and Its Future (ISAIF) Postscript to ISAIF The System's Neatest Trick Extracts From Letters to David Skrbina Excerpts From Letters to a German Extract from a Letter to A.O. Extract From Letter to J.N. Excerpts From Letter to M.K. Letter to Dr. P.B. On the Motivations of Scientists Appendix One: On Learned Helplessness Appendix Two: Human Will Versus the "Objective" Forces of History Appendix Three: Why Democracy Is the Dominant Political Form of the Modern World Appendix Four: Sarmiento and the Gauchos Appendix Five: Disposal of Radioactive Waste Appendix Six: Nations That Made a Conscious Decision to Adopt Democractic Government Usually Did So Because They Believed That Democracy Would Help Them to Achieve Economic and Technological Success Appendix Seven: Loyalty to the System Versus Loyalty to Traditional Social Groups: Some Examples Relevant to Paragraphs 51 & 52 of ISAIF Appendix Eight: In Support of the Letter to Dr. P.B. List of Works Cited Index Back Cover