I get the point from Douthat and others about the tech-trad alignment. But I think there’s also a part that’s missing: humility. The tech bros have an implicit assumption that they can figure it all out. Wonder, yes, but optimize/analyze too. In that sense, the true humility that is a necessary part of spiritual traditions/practices goes missing. We’re seeing it already.
Take psychedelics. People are doing ayahuasca / psilocybin on hipster retreats or in the halls of Silicon Valley. But without the ritualistic guardrails provided by traditional ceremonies/shamans, up to 20% of trips go badly. Stripping chemicals from ancient practices just shows hubris. Same for tech and spirituality. We’re already seeing robot/AI “priests” and advisors. Yes, people believe they can show empathy and wisdom, but it’s a veneer that seems acceptable because so much of our life is lived interacting with technology rather than other people.
What worries me is the confidence the tech industry has that it can solve the big questions. To borrow Greg Epstein’s phrase, tech is becoming like a new religion, but to me it’s one based on optimization without wisdom.
Totally agree. As someone who works in the tech industry, I am often stunned by the sheer heights of confidence many CEOs have in the transformational power of venture-capital backed technology. One of the key dissonances between trads/cons and tech bros is that the entire industry is primarily driven by venture capital, a risky and often profligate form of investment which prioritises a 'growth-at-any-cost' mindset. The resulting odds on success for startups are pretty bleak, but failing to scale a tech startup successfully is actually viewed as a positive marker in one's career, as it shows you have that 'drive'. This comes back to your note on an absence of humility.
This seems at odds with traditional conservative politics and is certainly at odds with traditional wisdom traditions, which exercise restraint and self-control, something the technology sector is currently incapable of demonstrating. Unceasing, linear, economic growth and technological evolvement driven by investment vehicles like venture-backed startups can never really be one with the traditional conservative mindset in my opinion.
Musk "agrees" with Jesus... that's rich. We must have different understandings of the word... I wonder how Musk defines "servant" or "sacrifice"? Perhaps "humility" needs reviewed as well.
I'm sure Musk thinks he's the savior of the world... that is probably where the confusion begins
I get the point from Douthat and others about the tech-trad alignment. But I think there’s also a part that’s missing: humility. The tech bros have an implicit assumption that they can figure it all out. Wonder, yes, but optimize/analyze too. In that sense, the true humility that is a necessary part of spiritual traditions/practices goes missing. We’re seeing it already.
Take psychedelics. People are doing ayahuasca / psilocybin on hipster retreats or in the halls of Silicon Valley. But without the ritualistic guardrails provided by traditional ceremonies/shamans, up to 20% of trips go badly. Stripping chemicals from ancient practices just shows hubris. Same for tech and spirituality. We’re already seeing robot/AI “priests” and advisors. Yes, people believe they can show empathy and wisdom, but it’s a veneer that seems acceptable because so much of our life is lived interacting with technology rather than other people.
What worries me is the confidence the tech industry has that it can solve the big questions. To borrow Greg Epstein’s phrase, tech is becoming like a new religion, but to me it’s one based on optimization without wisdom.
Totally agree. As someone who works in the tech industry, I am often stunned by the sheer heights of confidence many CEOs have in the transformational power of venture-capital backed technology. One of the key dissonances between trads/cons and tech bros is that the entire industry is primarily driven by venture capital, a risky and often profligate form of investment which prioritises a 'growth-at-any-cost' mindset. The resulting odds on success for startups are pretty bleak, but failing to scale a tech startup successfully is actually viewed as a positive marker in one's career, as it shows you have that 'drive'. This comes back to your note on an absence of humility.
This seems at odds with traditional conservative politics and is certainly at odds with traditional wisdom traditions, which exercise restraint and self-control, something the technology sector is currently incapable of demonstrating. Unceasing, linear, economic growth and technological evolvement driven by investment vehicles like venture-backed startups can never really be one with the traditional conservative mindset in my opinion.
Musk "agrees" with Jesus... that's rich. We must have different understandings of the word... I wonder how Musk defines "servant" or "sacrifice"? Perhaps "humility" needs reviewed as well.
I'm sure Musk thinks he's the savior of the world... that is probably where the confusion begins