Freedom Matters

Reframing our Reality – Michael Sacasas

May 26, 2022

Michael Sacasas, author of The Convivial Society, discusses the role of technology in shaping our existence, the importance of attention and its various forms, the pitfalls of Twitter, how technology reframes our reality, and the three most important questions regarding our use of technology.

33:23

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Episode guests

Michael Sacasas

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Quick takeaways

Our use of technology shapes our perception of the world and our existence.

Attention should be framed as an act of care and openness to the world, not just as a scarce commodity to be optimized.

Deep dives

The Impact of Technology on Our Perception

The podcast episode explores the idea that our devices have narrowed our vision and diminished our experience of the world, making the argument that virtual reality could be seen as just as good, or even better than, our current reality. This is due to the fact that our attention has been so narrowly focused on screens that we may have lost sight of the wonder and beauty of the world around us. The episode suggests that if we have already willingly impoverished our experience of reality, then the idea of a virtual world as an alternative may seem more plausible.

Introduction

3min

The Role of Writing in Self-Discovery

2min

The Impact of Technology on Attention

22min

Rhetoric of Technology, Critical Examination, and Finding the Right Place

2min

Understanding the Moral Consequences of Technology

4min

This week we welcome Michael Sacasas, author of The Convivial Society, a newsletter about technology and society. Michael is the associate director of the Christian Study Center of Gainesville and has written for The New Atlantis, The New Inquiry, Comment Magazine, and Real Life Magazine. He is also the author of a forthcoming book 41 Questions: Technology and the Moral Life (Avid Reader Press).

In this thought provoking episode we invite all our listeners to reconsider the place of technology in their own lives. We discuss:

the role of technology in our lives and how the way that we use tools shapes our experience of the world, and by extension our existence
attention, it's importance and its various forms
why Twitter for Michael is a deal with the devil
how, even out of the Metaverse, technology reframes our reality
the three most important questions everyone should ask of the way that they use technology

If you enjoyed our previous conversations with Oliver Burkeman, Nicholas Carr and Krista Tippett, then this episode is for you.

This episode is part of our series on "Self", where we explore how our technology impacts some of the most important aspects of being human. Recent episodes include Krista Tippett, creator on On Being, Susie Alegre, human rights lawyer and author of 'Freedom to Think' and upcoming episdoes include Jillian Horton MD, and author of 'We are All Perfectly Fine', Casey Swartz, author of "Attention, A Love Story" and Sharath Jeevan OBE, motivation expert and author of "Intrinsic". Our goal: to help all our listeners to think more critically about the role of technology in our lives, and how it shapes who we are.

Host and Producer: Georgie Powell https://www.sentientdigitalconsulting.com/

Music and audio production: Toccare https://spoti.fi/3bN4eqO