Mumford and Wasenbaum - The Relationship Between the Two

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Mumford and wasenbaum are friendly. They're corresponding with each other. And mumford is also pretty clearly an established critic of computers. So at a point where the idea of that still seems, you know, kind of silly or a little bit laughable, mumford is already trying to sound the alarm on that. Mumford was somebody who was repeatedly referred to as a prophet of doom. Some one once memorably, in a review of his referred to him as our most distinguished self flagellator.

Paris Marx is joined by Zachary Loeb to discuss the history of tech criticism with a focus on Joseph Weizenbaum and Lewis Mumford, as well as why the techlash is a narrative that suits Silicon Valley.

Zachary Loeb is a PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania whose dissertation research looks at Y2K. Follow Zachary on Twitter as @libshipwreck, and check out his Librarian Shipwreck blog.

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Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

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