Technopoly

According to Neil Postman's article, "From Technocracy to Technopoly", technocracy frist came about in England with James Watt's steam engine or with Adam Smith's book The Wealth of Nations. Acquiring wealth became the main pursuit in one's life. Tools became the most important item in the culture and everything else, including humanity, came second. "Technocracies brought into being an increased respect for the average person, whose potential and even convenience became a matter of compelling political interest and urgent social policy." This is directly proportional to Brave New World in when they state, "Even Epsilons were useful." Each person had a specific job that they had to fulfill in the society for the betterment of the whole. Technocracies altered the meaning of humanity, people were no longer seen as the children of God who were here on Earth to fulfill their lives as humans, rather they were machines to fulfill the needs and wants of society. Technology, science, and progress were the key items that brought happiness. "Technocracy speeded up the world." Henry Ford and his assembly line gave way to a new era, it removed the necessity for critical thinking of humans, only adherence to the machine of formulaic processes.  In Huxley's Brave New World, Ford is worshipped, they say his name in place of God. They refer to their time periods as BF and AF- "Before Ford and After Ford." The machinery knew better than the people and was therefore to be trusted completely. This was the beginning of technopoly, submission of all forms of life and culture to the sovereignty of technology. Technology was improving the conditions of life and causing happiness. In Brave New World, the citizens constantly repeat "Everyone is always happy." This new ear was in part due to "genious and ruthlessness of American capitalists" they were willing to go to many extremes for efficiency. Technology was a way of life, the only way that was suitable to the demands and needs of the people. "Technology provided endless conveniences and comforts." This concept is deeply portrayed in Brave New World because technology was used in all means of their lives to fulfill their demands. Another key component to technopoly was the defiance of religion and God. "Religion and faith came under open attack." Philosophers denied God. Scientists couldn't prove he existed at all or proved that he couldn't exist. Science and machinery were easier to trust than God, for they were tangible and you could observe them work successfully. There is no mention of God or belief in church and religion in Brave New World. They believe that soma is "Christ without the negatives. "Postman's article has views of technology opposite of Kurzweil. Postman views it negatively whereas Postman viewed it positively due to all the benefits it could possibly provide.