The Symbolic World 342 - Paul Kingsnorth - Becoming Gods Without God
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May 17, 2024 
Writer and environmentalist Paul Kingsnorth discusses technology, AI, civilization, creation, and environmentalism. Topics include the desire to be God, AI dependence, the god of economy, creation myths, influences of art like Tolkien, and changing perceptions on storytelling and AI in writing.
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The Spiritual Rebellion of Technology
- The driving force behind the current technological society is a spiritual rebellion against God, mirroring the story of Genesis.
- This rebellion manifests in attempts to build our own world and ultimately, to become gods ourselves.
Technology's Will and Service
- Technology, unlike simple tools, can manifest its own will and take us in a particular direction, often away from God.
- The question isn't whether technology is good or bad, but what it serves, as demonstrated by how we discuss 'the economy' as an entity we serve.
The Dependency Shift
- We become dependent on tools, losing organic abilities as technology advances.
- Technologies of mind and attention, like AI, create a different dependency where we may end up serving the technology.