This chapter examines the intersection of degrowth and technology, debating whether proponents of degrowth reject technology entirely or advocate for specific technological advancements that serve societal progress. The discussion stresses the urgency of transitioning towards a degrowth model to combat climate change and foster a sustainable future, highlighting the significance of employing technologies that prioritize collective welfare and public benefit.
Paris Marx is joined by Jason Hickel to discuss how technology would change in a degrowth society and why it doesn’t make sense to organize society around profit and infinite expansion.
Jason Hickel is the author of Less Is More: How Degrowth Will Save the World. He’s also a Professor at the Institute for Environmental Science and Technology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and a Visiting Senior Fellow at the International Inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics.
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. Support the show on Patreon.
The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.
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