Do I Just Go Full Cyborg?

January 28, 2022

“If* ‘Modern Life’

inevitably catalyzes [?]

•degenerative• or •dysfunctional• tendencies,

and we do not want to get rid of technology +,

what are we to do?”

First, * : IF. Modern life does not necessary have one particular effect.

On that note, “ “ : What does “modern” really refer to? The last 3 years? 30? Post email? Fiber Optic Cable? The World Wide Web? The internet in general? Satellites? Rockets? Electricity? Cars? Water Filtration? Nietzsche? The French Revolution? I dunno! You tell me.

•• ••: Degenerative/Dysfunctional is very technical. Does a habit or tendency, no matter how socially acceptable and normal it may or may not be, generate more life, or not? Does it improve functionality, or not? Well, it probably depends on the scale and on the context. Typing is a great skill, for example, as is writing, and both require a good degree of thinking. Thinking is generative and functional. How much sitting around and writing—or typing—and thinking is too much, though? How much sitting around and talking? Reading? How much sitting around and doing anything, or nothing, for that matter is too much? Probably, it depends on the person and the situation. Probably.

+ : Technology. Never mind getting rid of it, but what is it? Well, this week I experienced what it would be like to have no heat indoors while it’s 9 degrees outside. Clearly, heating a home requires technology.

So, “getting rid of”. How far do you go? Fire? wheel? Roads? Bridges? Boats? Mills? Juice presses

Not only is modern life dependent upon technology, but as far as we can tell human life is dependent upon it.

Is there imbalance, though?

I don’t know for sure. I think there is, but I don’t know. I know a lot of people seem to think so. Do I become more natural? Do I become more tech-dependent? Do I just go full cyborg, or do I escape to the mountaintop?