Source:NeilPostman,GermanInformaticsSociety,11Oct90,Stuttgart FollowingspeechwasgivenatameetingoftheGermanInformatics Society(GesellschaftfrInformatik)onOctober11,1990in Stuttgart,sponsoredbyIBMGermany. INFORMINGOURSELVESTODEATH ____________________________ byNeilPostman ThegreatEnglishplaywrightandsocialphilosopherGeorgeBernard Shawonceremarkedthatallprofessionsareconspiraciesagainstthe commonfolk.Hemeantthatthosewhobelongtoelitetrades physicians,lawyers,teachers,andscientistsprotecttheirspecial statusbycreatingvocabulariesthatareincomprehensibletothe generalpublic.Thisprocesspreventsoutsidersfromunderstanding whattheprofessionisdoingandwhyandprotectstheinsidersfrom closeexaminationandcriticism.

sm.Professions,inotherwords,build forbiddingwallsoftechnicalgobbledegookoverwhichthepryingand alieneyecannotsee. UnlikeGeorgeBernardShaw,Iraisenocomplaintagainstthis,forI considermyselfaprofessionalteacherandappreciatetechnical gobbledegookasmuchasanyone.ButIdonotobjectifoccasionally someonewhodoesnotknowthesecretsofmytradeisallowedentryto theinnerhallstoexpressanuntutoredpointofview.Suchaperson maysometimesgivearefreshingopinionor,evenbetter,seesomething inawaythattheprofessionalshaveoverlooked. IbelieveIhavebeeninvitedtospeakatthisconferenceforjust suchapurpose.Idonotknowverymuchmoreaboutcomputer technologythantheaveragepersonwhichisn'tverymuch.Ihave littleunderstandingofwhatexcitesacomputerprogrammeror scientist,andinexaminingthedescriptionsofthepresentationsat thisconference,Ifoundeachonemoremysteriousthanthenext.So, Iclearlyqualifyasanoutsider. ButIthinkthatwhatyouwanthereisnotmerelyanoutsiderbutan outsiderwhohasapointofviewthatmightbeusefultotheinsiders. AndthatiswhyIacceptedtheinvitationtospeak.IbelieveIknow somethingaboutwhattechnologiesdotoculture,andIknowevenmore aboutwhattechnologiesundoinaculture.Infact,Imightsay,at thestart,thatwhatatechnologyundoesisasubjectthatcomputer expertsapparentlyknowverylittleabout.Ihaveheardmanyexperts incomputertechnologyspeakabouttheadvantagesthatcomputerswill bring.Withoneexceptionnamely,JosephWeizenbaumIhavenever heardanyonespeakseriouslyandcomprehensivelyaboutthe 1

disadvantagesofcomputertechnology,whichstrikesmeasodd,and makesmewonderiftheprofessionishidingsomethingimportant.That istosay,whatseemstobelackingamongcomputerexpertsisasense oftechnologicalmodesty. Afterall,anyonewhohasstudiedthehistoryoftechnologyknowsthat technologicalchangeisalwaysaFaustianbargain:Technologygiveth andtechnologytakethaway,andnotalwaysinequalmeasure.Anew technologysometimescreatesmorethanitdestroys.Sometimes,it destroysmorethanitcreates.Butitisneveronesided. Theinventionoftheprintingpressisanexcellentexample.Printing fosteredthemodernideaofindividualitybutitdestroyedthe medievalsenseofcommunityandsocialintegration.Printingcreated prosebutmadepoetryintoanexoticandelitistformofexpression. Printingmademodernsciencepossiblebuttransformedreligious sensibilityintoanexerciseinsuperstition.Printingassistedin thegrowthofthenationstatebut,insodoing,madepatriotisminto asordidifnotamurderousemotion. Anotherwayofsayingthisisthatanewtechnologytendstofavor somegroupsofpeopleandharmsothergroups.Schoolteachers,for example,will,inthelongrun,probablybemadeobsoleteby television,asblacksmithsweremadeobsoletebytheautomobile,as balladeersweremadeobsoletebytheprintingpress.Technological change,inotherwords,alwaysresultsinwinnersandlosers. Inthecaseofcomputertechnology,therecanbenodisputingthatthe computerhasincreasedthepoweroflargescaleorganizationslike militaryestablishmentsorairlinecompaniesorbanksortax collectingagencies.Anditisequallyclearthatthecomputerisnow indispensabletohighlevelresearchersinphysicsandothernatural sciences.Buttowhatextenthascomputertechnologybeenanadvantage tothemassesofpeople?Tosteelworkers,vegetablestoreowners, teachers,automobilemechanics,musicians,bakers,bricklayers, dentistsandmostoftherestintowhoselivesthecomputernow intrudes?Thesepeoplehavehadtheirprivatemattersmademore accessibletopowerfulinstitutions.Theyaremoreeasilytrackedand controlled;theyaresubjectedtomoreexaminations,andare increasinglymystifiedbythedecisionsmadeaboutthem.Theyaremore oftenreducedtomerenumericalobjects.Theyarebeingburiedbyjunk mail.Theyareeasytargetsforadvertisingagenciesandpolitical organizations.Theschoolsteachtheirchildrentooperate computerizedsystemsinsteadofteachingthingsthataremorevaluable tochildren.Inaword,almostnothinghappenstothelosersthatthey need,whichiswhytheyarelosers. 2

Itistobeexpectedthatthewinnersforexample,mostofthe speakersatthisconferencewillencouragetheloserstobe enthusiasticaboutcomputertechnology.Thatisthewayofwinners, andsotheysometimestellthelosersthatwithpersonalcomputersthe averagepersoncanbalanceacheckbookmoreneatly,keepbettertrack ofrecipes,andmakemorelogicalshoppinglists.Theyalsotellthem thattheycanvoteathome,shopathome,getalltheinformationthey wishathome,andthusmakecommunitylifeunnecessary.Theytell themthattheirliveswillbeconductedmoreefficiently,discreetly neglectingtosayfromwhosepointofvieworwhatmightbethecosts ofsuchefficiency. Shouldthelosersgrowskeptical,thewinnersdazzlethemwiththe wondrousfeatsofcomputers,manyofwhichhaveonlymarginal relevancetothequalityofthelosers'livesbutwhichare nonethelessimpressive.Eventually,theloserssuccumb,inpart becausetheybelievethatthespecializedknowledgeofthemastersof acomputertechnologyisaformofwisdom.Themasters,ofcourse, cometobelievethisaswell.Theresultisthatcertainquestionsdo notarise,suchas,towhomwillthecomputergivegreaterpowerand freedom,andwhosepowerandfreedomwillbereduced? Now,Ihaveperhapsmadeallofthissoundlikeawellplanned conspiracy,asifthewinnersknowalltoowellwhatisbeingwonand whatlost.Butthisisnotquitehowithappens,forthewinnersdo notalwaysknowwhattheyaredoing,andwhereitwillalllead.The Benedictinemonkswhoinventedthemechanicalclockinthe12thand 13thcenturiesbelievedthatsuchaclockwouldprovideaprecise regularitytothesevenperiodsofdevotiontheywererequiredto observeduringthecourseoftheday.Asamatteroffact,itdid. Butwhatthemonksdidnotrealizeisthattheclockisnotmerelya meansofkeepingtrackofthehoursbutalsoofsynchronizingand controllingtheactionsofmen.Andso,bythemiddleofthe14th century,theclockhadmovedoutsidethewallsofthemonastery,and broughtanewandpreciseregularitytothelifeoftheworkmanand themerchant.Themechanicalclockmadepossibletheideaofregular production,regularworkinghours,andastandardizedproduct. Withouttheclock,capitalismwouldhavebeenquiteimpossible.And so,hereisagreatparadox:theclockwasinventedbymenwhowanted todevotethemselvesmorerigorouslytoGod;anditendedasthe technologyofgreatestusetomenwhowishedtodevotethemselvesto theaccumulationofmoney.Technologyalwayshasunforeseen consequences,anditisnotalwaysclear,atthebeginning,whoor whatwillwin,andwhoorwhatwilllose. Imightadd,bywayofanotherhistoricalexample,thatJohann GutenbergwasbyallaccountsadevotedChristianwhowouldhavebeen 3

horrifiedtohearMartinLuther,theaccursedheretic,declarethat printingis"God'shighestactofgrace,wherebythebusinessofthe Gospelisdrivenforward."Gutenbergthoughthisinventionwould advancethecauseoftheHolyRomanSee,whereasinfact,itturned outtobringarevolutionwhichdestroyedthemonopolyoftheChurch. Wemaywellaskourselves,then,istheresomethingthatthemasters ofcomputertechnologythinktheyaredoingforuswhichtheyandwe mayhavereasontoregret?Ibelievethereis,anditissuggestedby thetitleofmytalk,"InformingOurselvestoDeath".Inthetime remaining,Iwilltrytoexplainwhatisdangerousaboutthecomputer, andwhy.AndItrustyouwillbeopenenoughtoconsiderwhatIhave tosay.Now,IthinkIcanbegintogetatthisbytellingyouofa smallexperimentIhavebeenconducting,onandoff,forthepast severalyears.Therearesomepeoplewhodescribetheexperimentasan exerciseindeceitandexploitationbutIwillrelyonyoursenseof humortopullmethrough. Here'showitworks:ItisbestdoneinthemorningwhenIseea colleaguewhoappearsnottobeinpossessionofacopyof{TheNew YorkTimes}."DidyoureadTheTimesthismorning?,"Iask.Ifthe colleaguesaysyes,thereisnoexperimentthatday.Butiftheanswer isno,theexperimentcanproceed."YououghttolookatPage23,"I say."There'safascinatingarticleaboutastudydoneatHarvard University.""Really?What'sitabout?"istheusualreply.My choicesatthispointarelimitedonlybymyimagination.ButImight saysomethinglikethis:"Well,theydidthisstudytofindoutwhat foodsarebesttoeatforlosingweight,anditturnsoutthata normaldietsupplementedbychocolateeclairs,eatensixtimesaday, isthebestapproach.Itseemsthatthere'ssomespecialnutrientin theeclairsencomialdioxinthatactuallyusesupcaloriesatan incrediblerate." Anotherpossibility,whichIliketousewithcolleagueswhoareknown tobehealthconsciousisthisone:"Ithinkyou'llwanttoknowabout this,"Isay."TheneurophysiologistsattheUniversityofStuttgart haveuncoveredaconnectionbetweenjoggingandreducedintelligence. Theytestedmorethan1200peopleoveraperiodoffiveyears,and foundthatasthenumberofhourspeoplejoggedincreased,therewasa correspondingdecreaseintheirintelligence.Theydon'tknowexactly whybutthereitis." I'msure,bynow,youunderstandwhatmyroleisintheexperiment:to reportsomethingthatisquiteridiculousonemightsay,beyond belief.Letmetellyou,then,someofmyresults:Unlessthisisthe secondorthirdtimeI'vetriedthisonthesameperson,mostpeople willbelieveoratleastnotdisbelievewhatIhavetoldthem.Some 4

timestheysay:"Really?Isthatpossible?"Sometimestheydoa doubletake,andreply,"Where'dyousaythatstudywasdone?"And sometimestheysay,"Youknow,I'veheardsomethinglikethat." Now,thereareseveralconclusionsthatmightbedrawnfromthese results,oneofwhichwasexpressedbyH.L.Menckenfiftyyearsago whenhesaid,thereisnoideasostupidthatyoucan'tfinda professorwhowillbelieveit.Thisismoreofanaccusationthanan explanationbutinanycaseIhavetriedthisexperimentonnon professorsandgetroughlythesameresults.Anotherpossiblecon clusionisoneexpressedbyGeorgeOrwellalsoabout50yearsago whenheremarkedthattheaveragepersontodayisaboutasnaiveas wastheaveragepersonintheMiddleAges.IntheMiddleAgespeople believedintheauthorityoftheirreligion,nomatterwhat.Today,we believeintheauthorityofourscience,nomatterwhat. ButIthinkthereisstillanotherandmoreimportantconclusiontobe drawn,relatedtoOrwell'spointbutratheroffatarightangleto it.Iamreferringtothefactthattheworldinwhichweliveisvery nearlyincomprehensibletomostofus.Thereisalmostnofact whetheractualorimaginedthatwillsurpriseusforverylong, sincewehavenocomprehensiveandconsistentpictureoftheworld whichwouldmakethefactappearasanunacceptablecontradiction.We believebecausethereisnoreasonnottobelieve.Nosocial, political,historical,metaphysical,logicalorspiritualreason.We liveinaworldthat,forthemostpart,makesnosensetous.Not eventechnicalsense.Idon'tmeantotrymyexperimentonthis audience,especiallyafterhavingtoldyouaboutit,butifIinformed youthattheseatsyouarepresentlyoccupyingwereactuallymadebya specialprocesswhichusestheskinofaBismarkherring,onwhat groundswouldyoudisputeme?Forallyouknowindeed,forallI knowtheskinofaBismarkherringcouldhavemadetheseatson whichyousit.AndifIcouldgetanindustrialchemisttoconfirm thisfactbydescribingsomeincomprehensibleprocessbywhichitwas done,youwouldprobablytellsomeonetomorrowthatyouspentthe eveningsittingonaBismarkherring. PerhapsIcangetabitclosertothepointIwishtomakewithan analogy:Ifyouopenedabrandnewdeckofcards,andstartedturning thecardsover,onebyone,youwouldhaveaprettygoodideaofwhat theirorderis.Afteryouhadgonefromtheaceofspadesthroughthe nineofspades,youwouldexpectatenofspadestocomeupnext.And ifathreeofdiamondsshowedupinstead,youwouldbesurprisedand wonderwhatkindofdeckofcardsthisis.ButifIgaveyouadeck thathadbeenshuffledtwentytimes,andthenaskedyoutoturnthe cardsover,youwouldnotexpectanycardinparticularathreeof diamondswouldbejustaslikelyasatenofspades.Havingnobasis 5

forassumingagivenorder,youwouldhavenoreasontoreactwith disbelieforevensurprisetowhatevercardturnsup. Thepointisthat,inaworldwithoutspiritualorintellectualorder, nothingisunbelievable;nothingispredictable,andtherefore, nothingcomesasaparticularsurprise. Infact,GeorgeOrwellwasmorethanalittleunfairtotheaverage personintheMiddleAges.ThebeliefsystemoftheMiddleAgeswas ratherlikemybrandnewdeckofcards.Thereexistedanordered, comprehensibleworldview,beginningwiththeideathatallknowledge andgoodnesscomefromGod.Whatthepriestshadtosayaboutthe worldwasderivedfromthelogicoftheirtheology.Therewasnothing arbitraryaboutthethingspeoplewereaskedtobelieve,includingthe factthattheworlditselfwascreatedat9AMonOctober23inthe year4004B.C.Thatcouldbeexplained,andwas,quitelucidly,to thesatisfactionofanyone.Socouldthefactthat10,000angelscould danceontheheadofapin.Itmadequitegoodsense,ifyoubelieved thattheBibleistherevealedwordofGodandthattheuniverseis populatedwithangels.Themedievalworldwas,tobesure,mysterious andfilledwithwonder,butitwasnotwithoutasenseoforder. Ordinarymenandwomenmightnotclearlygrasphowtheharshrealities oftheirlivesfitintothegrandandbenevolentdesign,buttheyhad nodoubtthattherewassuchadesign,andtheirpriestswerewell able,bydeductionfromahandfulofprinciples,tomakeit,ifnot rational,atleastcoherent. Thesituationwearepresentlyinismuchdifferent.AndIshouldsay, sadderandmoreconfusingandcertainlymoremysterious.Itisrather liketheshuffleddeckofcardsIreferredto.Thereisnoconsistent, integratedconceptionoftheworldwhichservesasthefoundationon whichouredificeofbeliefrests.Andtherefore,inasense,weare morenaivethanthoseoftheMiddleAges,andmorefrightened,forwe canbemadetobelievealmostanything.TheskinofaBismarkherring makesaboutasmuchsenseasavinylalloyorencomialdioxin. Now,inaway,noneofthisisourfault.IfImayturnthewisdomof Cassiusonitshead:thefaultisnotinourselvesbutalmost literallyinthestars.WhenGalileoturnedhistelescopetowardthe heavens,andallowedKeplertolookaswell,theyfoundnoenchantment orauthorizationinthestars,onlygeometricpatternsand equations.God,itseemed,waslessofamoralphilosopherthana mastermathematician.Thisdiscoveryhelpedtogiveimpetustothe developmentofphysicsbutdidnothingbutharmtotheology.Before GalileoandKepler,itwaspossibletobelievethattheEarthwasthe stablecenteroftheuniverse,andthatGodtookaspecialinterest inouraffairs.Afterward,theEarthbecamealonelywandererinan 6

obscuregalaxyinahiddencorneroftheuniverse,andwewereleftto wonderifGodhadanyinterestinusatall.Theordered, comprehensibleworldoftheMiddleAgesbegantounravelbecause peoplenolongersawinthestarsthefaceofafriend. Andsomethingelse,whichoncewasourfriend,turnedagainstus,as well.Irefertoinformation.Therewasatimewheninformationwasa resourcethathelpedhumanbeingstosolvespecificandurgent problemsoftheirenvironment.ItistrueenoughthatintheMiddle Ages,therewasascarcityofinformationbutitsveryscarcitymade itbothimportantandusable.Thisbegantochange,aseveryoneknows, inthelate15thcenturywhenagoldsmithnamedGutenberg,fromMainz, convertedanoldwinepressintoaprintingmachine,andinso doing,createdwhatwenowcallaninformationexplosion.Fortyyears aftertheinventionofthepress,therewereprintingmachinesin110 citiesinsixdifferentcountries;50yearsafter,morethaneight millionbookshadbeenprinted,almostallofthemfilledwith informationthathadpreviouslynotbeenavailabletotheaverage person.Nothingcouldbemoremisleadingthantheideathatcomputer technologyintroducedtheageofinformation.Theprintingpress beganthatage,andwehavenotbeenfreeofitsince. Butwhatstartedoutasaliberatingstreamhasturnedintoadeluge ofchaos.IfImaytakemyowncountryasanexample,hereiswhatwe arefacedwith:InAmerica,thereare260,000billboards;11,520 newspapers;11,556periodicals;27,000videooutletsforrenting tapes;362milliontvsets;andover400millionradios.Thereare 40,000newbooktitlespublishedeveryyear(300,000worldwide)and everydayinAmerica41millionphotographsaretaken,andjustfor therecord,over60billionpiecesofadvertisingjunkmailcomeinto ourmailboxeseveryyear.Everythingfromtelegraphyandphotography inthe19thcenturytothesiliconchipinthetwentiethhasamplified thedinofinformation,untilmattershavereachedsuchproportions todaythatfortheaverageperson,informationnolongerhasany relationtothesolutionofproblems. Thetiebetweeninformationandactionhasbeensevered.Information isnowacommoditythatcanbeboughtandsold,orusedasaformof entertainment,orwornlikeagarmenttoenhanceone'sstatus.It comesindiscriminately,directedatnooneinparticular,disconnected fromusefulness;wearegluttedwithinformation,drowningin information,havenocontroloverit,don'tknowwhattodowithit. Andtherearetworeasonswedonotknowwhattodowithit.First,as Ihavesaid,wenolongerhaveacoherentconceptionofourselves,and ouruniverse,andourrelationtooneanotherandourworld.Weno longerknow,astheMiddleAgesdid,wherewecomefrom,andwherewe 7

aregoing,orwhy.Thatis,wedon'tknowwhatinformationis relevant,andwhatinformationisirrelevanttoourlives.Second,we havedirectedallofourenergiesandintelligencetoinventing machinerythatdoesnothingbutincreasethesupplyofinformation.As aconsequence,ourdefensesagainstinformationgluthavebrokendown; ourinformationimmunesystemisinoperable.Wedon'tknowhowto filteritout;wedon'tknowhowtoreduceit;wedon'tknowtouse it.WesufferfromakindofculturalAIDS. Now,intothissituationcomesthecomputer.Thecomputer,asweknow, hasaqualityofuniversality,notonlybecauseitsusesarealmost infinitelyvariousbutalsobecausecomputersarecommonlyintegrated intothestructureofothermachines.Thereforeitwouldbefatuousof metowarnagainsteveryconceivableuseofacomputer.Butthereis nodenyingthatthemostprominentusesofcomputershavetodowith information.Whenpeopletalkabout"informationsciences,"theyare talkingaboutcomputershowtostoreinformation,howtoretrieve information,howtoorganizeinformation.Thecomputerisananswer tothequestions,howcanIgetmoreinformation,faster,andinamore usableform?Thesewouldappeartobereasonablequestions.ButnowI shouldliketoputsomeotherquestionstoyouthatseemtomemore reasonable.DidIraqinvadeKuwaitbecauseofalackofinformation? IfahideouswarshouldensuebetweenIraqandtheU.S.,willit happenbecauseofalackofinformation?Ifchildrendieofstarvation inEthiopia,doesitoccurbecauseofalackofinformation?Doesracism inSouthAfricaexistbecauseofalackofinformation?Ifcriminals roamthestreetsofNewYorkCity,dotheydosobecauseofalackof information? Or,letuscomedowntoamorepersonallevel:Ifyouandyourspouse areunhappytogether,andendyourmarriageindivorce,willithappen becauseofalackofinformation?Ifyourchildrenmisbehaveandbring shametoyourfamily,doesithappenbecauseofalackofinformation? Ifsomeoneinyourfamilyhasamentalbreakdown,willithappen becauseofalackofinformation? Ibelieveyouwillhavetoconcedethatwhatailsus,whatcausesusthe mostmiseryandpainatbothculturalandpersonallevelshasnothing todowiththesortofinformationmadeaccessiblebycomputers.The computeranditsinformationcannotansweranyofthefundamentalquest ionsweneedtoaddresstomakeourlivesmoremeaningfulandhumane. Thecomputercannotprovideanorganizingmoralframework.Itcannot telluswhatquestionsareworthasking.Itcannotprovideameansof understandingwhywearehereorwhywefighteachotherorwhydecency eludesussooften,especiallywhenweneeditthemost.Thecomputer is,inasense,amagnificenttoythatdistractsusfromfacingwhatwe mostneededtoconfrontspiritualemptiness,knowledgeofourselves, 8

usableconceptionsofthepastandfuture.Doesoneblamethecomputer forthis?Ofcoursenot.Itis,afterall,onlyamachine.Butitis presentedtous,withtrumpetsblaring,asatthisconference,asa technologicalmessiah. Throughthecomputer,theheraldssay,wewillmakeeducationbetter, religionbetter,politicsbetter,ourmindsbetterbestofall, ourselvesbetter.Thisis,ofcourse,nonsense,andonlytheyoungor theignorantorthefoolishcouldbelieveit.Isaidamomentago thatcomputersarenottoblameforthis.Andthatistrue,atleast inthesensethatwedonotblameanelephantforitshugeappetiteor astoneforbeinghardoracloudforhidingthesun.Thatistheir nature,andweexpectnothingdifferentfromthem.Butthecomputer hasanature,aswell.True,itisonlyamachinebutamachine designedtomanipulateandgenerateinformation.Thatiswhat computersdo,andthereforetheyhaveanagendaandanunmistakable message. Themessageisthatthroughmoreandmoreinformation,moreconveniently packaged,moreswiftlydelivered,wewillfindsolutionstoour problems.Andsoallthebrilliantyoungmenandwomen,believing this,createingeniousthingsforthecomputertodo,hopingthatin thisway,wewillbecomewiserandmoredecentandmorenoble.And whocanblamethem?Bybecomingmastersofthiswondroustechnology, theywillacquireprestigeandpowerandsomewillevenbecomefamous. Inaworldpopulatedbypeoplewhobelievethatthroughmoreandmore information,paradiseisattainable,thecomputerscientistisking. ButImaintainthatallofthisisamonumentalanddangerouswasteof humantalentandenergy.Imaginewhatmightbeaccomplishedifthis talentandenergywereturnedtophilosophy,totheology,tothearts, toimaginativeliteratureortoeducation?Whoknowswhatwecould learnfromsuchpeopleperhapswhytherearewars,andhunger,and homelessnessandmentalillnessandanger. Asthingsstandnow,thegeniusesofcomputertechnologywillgiveus StarWars,andtellusthatistheanswertonuclearwar.Theywill giveusartificialintelligence,andtellusthatthisisthewayto selfknowledge.Theywillgiveusinstantaneousglobalcommunicat ion,andtellusthisisthewaytomutualunderstanding.Theywill giveusVirtualRealityandtellusthisistheanswertospiritual poverty.Butthatisonlythewayofthetechnician,thefactmongerer, theinformationjunkie,andthetechnologicalidiot. HereiswhatHenryDavidThoreautoldus:"Allourinventionsarebut improvedmeanstoanunimprovedend."HereiswhatGoethetoldus: "Oneshould,eachday,trytohearalittlesong,readagoodpoem, seeafinepicture,and,ifitispossible,speakafewreasonable 9

words."AndhereiswhatSocratestoldus:"Theunexaminedlifeisnot worthliving."AndhereiswhattheprophetMicahtoldus:"Whatdoes theLordrequireoftheebuttodojustly,andtolovemercyandto walkhumblywiththyGod?"AndIcantellyouifIhadthetime (althoughyouallknowitwellenough)whatConfucius,Isaiah, Jesus,Mohammed,theBuddha,SpinozaandShakespearetoldus.Itis allthesame:Thereisnoescapingfromourselves.Thehumandilemma isasithasalwaysbeen,andwesolvenothingfundamentalbycloaking ourselvesintechnologicalglory. Eventhehumblestcartooncharacterknowsthis,andIshallcloseby quotingthewiseoldpossumnamedPogo,createdbythecartoonist, WaltKelley.Icommendhiswordstoallthetechnologicalutopians andmessiahspresent."Wehavemettheenemy,"Pogosaid,"andheis us."

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