[2/2] The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West (Technological republic. Hard Power, Soft Faith, and the Future of the West) (Category Economics)
Continue. story About the book, I will tell you more about the main ideas.
1. Silicon Valley has lost track of the public good. The authors begin with a sharp critique of modern Silicon Valley, arguing that in recent decades, the technocratic elite has betrayed their former ideals. Instead of solving the big problems of mankind or strengthening national prosperity, the best engineering minds engaged in serving the trivial needs of the market. The authors say that IT giants are now spending enormous resources not on breakthrough innovations for the common good, but on applications for the comfort of spoiled consumers. It’s funny that you don’t even have to think about the specific companies that the authors criticize.
2. The lesson of history: the union of technology and the state did great things. In contrast to the current situation, the authors cite the golden age of technological breakthroughs of the XX century, when science, business and the state in the United States acted together. (The Manhattan Project, the Apollo Project with the landing of a man on the moon). These programs brought together thousands of the best scientists and engineers, were generously funded by the state and led to tremendous achievements that changed the course of history. The authors emphasize that early Silicon Valley innovations were born in a similar way. The contrast with today is striking: instead of “big ideas” – a culture of start-ups eager for a quick IPO; instead of cooperation with the state – a proud opposition to it or flight from regulation. By the way, the modern project "Stargate" stands out in this regard. (See the documentary I'm talking about. told)
3. The Soft Faith of the West: The Loss of Common Beliefs and Goals. The most important concept that Karp and Zamiska introduce is the crisis of faith and ideological will in the West, what they call “soft belief.” From their point of view, the Western elites (politicians, academicians, general directors) The ability to formulate real beliefs and defend them publicly has been blunted. In the public sphere, there is a spirit of self-preservation and fear of offending anyone, which is why leaders prefer to talk about nothing, hide behind corporate slogans, in order to avoid a flurry of criticism on social networks. This intellectual relativism drives companies that really shape the future. (bigtech)They remain silent about where the world is going. The authors come to the idea of the “disintegration of national identity,” which once rallied inventors and engineers around a common goal, but has now dissolved into the cosmopolitan world of consumerism.
4. The liberal consensus needs to be revised. Consequently, the post-Cold War liberal consensus – a belief in the automatic triumph of free markets, globalization, and tolerance – needs to be rethought. Karp and Zamiska do not call for the abandonment of democratic freedoms, but believe that it is time for the West to get rid of naivety and return to the strategic thinking of the times of confrontation with totalitarianism. It is clear that the authors contrast themselves with China and other autocracies.
5. The Technological Republic: How Technology Can Save, Not Kill, Democracy The central image of the book is a “technological republic” and an allusion to Plato’s “Republic.” (randomly). This is a political order that is sorely needed today in America and throughout the West, understood as a community of technologically and morally advanced democracies under US leadership. According to the authors, such a republic would be able to withstand the challenges of the XXI century, relying simultaneously on hard power. (military and technological power) and soft faith. (conviction, values and intellectual courage). In fact, the “technological republic” is a call for the revival of enlightened patriotism among technologists, scientists, and entrepreneurs. Their book is a manifesto of confidence that the West can still renew itself and win if it has will and meaning.
#History #Economics #Future