L.M. Sacasas: The Questions Concerning Technology

L.M. Sacasas: The Questions Concerning Technology

Author: Daniel Bashir August 15, 2024 Duration: 1:47:20

Episode 135

I spoke with L. M. Sacasas about:

* His writing and intellectual influences

* The value of asking hard questions about technology and our relationship to it

* What happens when we decide to outsource skills and competency

* Evolving notions of what it means to be human and questions about how to live a good life

Enjoy—and let me know what you think!

Michael is Executive Director of the Christian Study Center of Gainesville, Florida and author of The Convivial Society, a newsletter about technology and society.

He does some of the best writing on technology I’ve had the pleasure to read, and I highly recommend his newsletter.

Find me on Twitter for updates on new episodes, and reach me at editor@thegradient.pub for feedback, ideas, guest suggestions.

I spend a lot of time on this podcast—if you like my work, you can support me on Patreon :) You can also support upkeep for the full Gradient team/project through a paid subscription on Substack!

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Outline:

* (00:00) Intro

* (01:12) On podcasts as a medium

* (06:12) Michael’s writing

* (12:38) Michael’s intellectual influences, contingency

* (18:48) Moral seriousness

* (22:00) Michael’s ambitions for his work

* (26:17) The value of asking the right questions (about technology)

* (34:18) Technology use and the “natural” pace of human life

* (46:40) Outsourcing of skills and competency, engagement with others

* (55:33) Inevitability narratives and technological determinism, the “Borg Complex”

* (1:05:10) Notions of what it is to be human, embodiment

* (1:12:37) Higher cognition vs. the body, dichotomies

* (1:22:10) The body as a starting point for philosophy, questions about the adoption of new technologies

* (1:30:01) Enthusiasm about technology and the cultural milieu

* (1:35:30) Projectivism, desire for knowledge about and control of the world

* (1:41:22) Positive visions for the future

* (1:47:11) Outro

Links:

* Michael’s Substack: The Convivial Society and his book, The Frailest Thing: Ten Years of Thinking about the Meaning of Technology

* Michael’s Twitter

* Essays

* Humanist Technology Criticism

* What Does the Critic Love?

* The Ambling Mind

* Waste Your Time, Your Life May Depend On It

* The Work of Art

* The Stuff of (a Well-Lived) Life



Get full access to The Gradient at thegradientpub.substack.com/subscribe

Hosted by Daniel Bashir, The Gradient: Perspectives on AI moves beyond surface-level headlines to explore the intricate machinery and human ideas shaping artificial intelligence. Each episode is built on a foundation of deep research, leading to conversations that are both technically substantive and broadly accessible. You'll hear from researchers, engineers, and philosophers who are actively building and critiquing our technological future, discussing not just how AI systems work, but the larger implications of their integration into society. This isn't about speculative hype; it's a grounded examination of real progress, persistent challenges, and ethical considerations from those on the front lines. The discussions peel back layers on topics like model architecture, policy, and the fundamental science behind the algorithms becoming part of our daily lives. For anyone curious about the substance behind the buzz-whether you have a technical background or are simply keen to understand a defining technology of our age-this podcast offers a crucial and thoughtful resource. Tune in for a consistently detailed and nuanced take that treats artificial intelligence with the complexity it deserves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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