Techno Selectionism: Dealing with Technology in Our Lives

Techno selectionism suggests that we should approach technology by being open to experimenting with new tools but also being willing to reject them if they do not align with our values or priorities. It challenges the idea of blindly accepting all new technology as inherently good and encourages a more critical and intentional evaluation of how technology impacts our lives, organizations, and culture. The concept acknowledges the unpredictability of technology's long-term effects and emphasizes the importance of actively choosing which technologies to adopt based on personal values and needs.

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Thiago Ghisi

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Cal Newport is a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, where he is also a founding member of the Center for Digital Ethics. His books have sold millions of copies and been translated into over forty languages. He is also a contributor to The New Yorker and hosts the popular Deep Questions podcast. His new book is Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout.

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Timestamps for this episode are available below. Resources from this episode: https://tim.blog/2024/02/21/cal-newport-slow-productivity/

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Timestamps:

[00:00] Start

[06:14] Unforced Errors: The Internet Story.

[09:41] Techno-selectionism.

[18:06] Why YouTube and podcasts aren’t ideal bedfellows.

[23:03] Amish technology and Steve Martin.

[28:07] What prompted Cal to write Slow Productivity?

[31:35] Becoming a better writer through blogging.

[36:54] The benefits of obsessing over quality.

[40:54] How did Cal decide to identify himself as a writer?

[52:02] People who exemplify slow productivity.