20 November 2014
15 November 2014
"The Compass of Pleasure" by David J. Linden (2011)
Individuals differ in their susceptibilities to addiction. An individual with an intense susceptibility will become addicted anyway; his only decision is to choose an addiction. The society can only hope to steer the individual towards a productive addiction by multiplying the choices available to him.
It is unlikely that the technological progress is an aberration that will cease. Individuals have found the same outlet for creativity in technology as used to be available only in art and science. This outlet cannot be lost. It is possible, however, that abundant consumption will subdue the desire to create. It is also possible that technological advances will enable one to administer pleasure directly, without resorting to the exercise of creativity.
The future ushered by such advances would take suburbia to another level. The greatest source of satisfaction is other people. Finding the right kind of other people requires time. Instead of lubricating connexions (e.g., as Facebook does), technology might dispense with connexions altogether. Some (mostly good-looking and intelligent) nonconformists would socialise and work. Others would volunteer to exist in solitude, plugged into machines.
It is unlikely that the technological progress is an aberration that will cease. Individuals have found the same outlet for creativity in technology as used to be available only in art and science. This outlet cannot be lost. It is possible, however, that abundant consumption will subdue the desire to create. It is also possible that technological advances will enable one to administer pleasure directly, without resorting to the exercise of creativity.
The future ushered by such advances would take suburbia to another level. The greatest source of satisfaction is other people. Finding the right kind of other people requires time. Instead of lubricating connexions (e.g., as Facebook does), technology might dispense with connexions altogether. Some (mostly good-looking and intelligent) nonconformists would socialise and work. Others would volunteer to exist in solitude, plugged into machines.
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