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%TECHNOLOGICAL MEDIUM MESSAGE REAL CHILD+790606
%MAGIC LANGUAGE CULTURE COMMUNICATE 790606
Technologists presume to provide the means by which
we can accomplish humane purposes. They view the means,
their technologies, as value neutral. They view their
means as a language of action which may be used to convey
human concern and love. To them technology is a medium, a
language, of communication. They do not perceive
technology as a message.
Each language is suited to only some communications,
and ill suited to many other communications. Music is
well suited to communicating emotions and affective
perceptions, but ill suited to communicating quantitative
relationships. Mathematics is well suited to
communicating quantitative relationships, but ill suited
to communicating emotions and affective perceptions.
Technology is well suited to communicating objective,
systematic, manipulative, and goal-oriented concerns; but
is ill suited to communicating subjective, spontaneous,
and very intimate personal affections.
When a particular language becomes the dominant
language of a culture, the culture becomes dominated by
the language and its limitations. Members of the culture
become unable to communicate any messages which the
dominant language is ill suited to communicate. Such
messages and perceptions slowly become unknown
mysteries---as a language becomes dominant in a culture.
The medium for communication of messages becomes the
dominant message of the culture.
A technocratic society is one in which the technology
of the society has become the dominant medium of
communication---people say they care technocratically.
They see all problems and dilemmas as technological
problems. Communication problems and dilemmas are solved
by improved technologies, etc. In such a society non-
technocratic languages are dominated by the technocratic
medium, and non-technocratic realities fade away into the
midst of memories of the elder citizens.
Magical children challenge the presuppositions of
each dominant language. They must be educated to
understand the dominant language as the right way to
communicate. Their immature visions, fantasies, and
imaginations, must be put away, in order that they may
cope successfully and survive, be saved, and go to heaven
to live eternally with others who have been saved by the
dominant language's message that it is ultimate.
(c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in
www.essayz.com Search for Integrity and Honesty
(On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)
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