Ethics Exam 3 Flashcards
1
Q
What is the catholics church’s stance towards technology?
A
Green says technology should be divided by good, neutral, and bad, because technology has a means to an end
2
Q
Catholic churchs stance on technology relates to actions as either
A
prohibited, permissible, obligatory
3
Q
The church holds that faith and reason lead to the same?
A
Truth and are not in opposition to each other
4
Q
Histrically christians and catholic institutions have been at the forefront of?
A
Scientific dicovery and development in engineering and architecture
5
Q
The church has disapproved certain technologies like ?
A
Weapons technologies (Just war theory)
Human reproduction technologies
6
Q
The catholic church opposes the?
A
Technocratic paradigm and scientism
7
Q
The technocratic paradigm
A
can be understood as the belief that every problem is merely one of efficiency and that therefore technology can solve every problem, without the intervention of ethics. The technocratic paradigm explicitly violates the catholic church.
8
Q
As humans become more powerful we can?
A
Do more and have more choices therefore will be more things to say not to
9
Q
Corporate social responsibility (people planet profit )
A
Based on the premise that an organization should take responsibility for its impact on environment, community, and welfare of its employees
10
Q
Corporate social responsibility expands from
A
responsibility from guideline of respect to guideline of care/CST
11
Q
Supply chain substantiality
A
developing and maintaining a supply chain that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
12
Q
Enviormental, social, and governance, aka stakeholder captialism
A
investing refers to a set of standards for a company’s behavior used by socially conscious investors to screen potential investments, social credit score for corporations
13
Q
ESG enviormental criteria
A
consider how a company’s safeguards the environments, including corporate policies addressing climate change for example
14
Q
ESG social critiea
A
examine how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates
15
Q
ESG goverance critea
A
deals with a company leadership, executive pay audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights
16
Q
Catholic social teaching
A
Catholic doctrines on matters of human dignity and common good in society
17
Q
10 building blocks of catholic social teaching
A
- The principal of human dignity
- The principal of respect for human life
- The principal association
- The principal of participation
- The principle of preferential protection for the poor and vulnerable
- The principal of solidarity
- The principal of stewardship
- The principle of subsidiarity
- The principle of human equality
- The principle of common good
18
Q
Shareholder theory
A
According to economist Milton Friedman, the social responsibility of business is to increase its profits
“Insofar as (business executives) actions in accord with his social responsibility reduce returns to stockholders”
19
Q
Problem with shareholder theory
A
short term oriented, evil, or greedy managers or owners
20
Q
Can ESG/CSR/CST (stakeholder capitalism) and the Friedman doctrine (shareholder capitalism) be reconciled?
A
Shareholders and other stakeholders may want managers to act in ESG/CSR ways even if profits are reduced, pay is reduced, and prices are increased
Some ESG/CSR-type actions may support the long-term profits of a business so that there is no tradeoff between ESR/CSR and profits
ESG/CSR type actions may increase employee and customer loyalty
Reducing waste may increase efficiency
21
Q
7 themes of catholic social teaching
A
- Life and dignity of the human person
- Call to family, community, and participation
- Rights and responsibilities
- Option for the poor and vulnerable
- The dignity of work and the rights of workers
- Solidarity
- Care for god’s creation
22
Q
The principal of human dignity
A
“Every human being is created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, and therefore is invaluable and worthy of respect as a member if human family”
It is not what you do or what you have that gives you a claim on respect; it is simply being human that esbashlies your dignity, given that dignity, the human person is never a means, always an end
Consistent with Gomez-Lobo on dignity humans as ends not means (contra utilitarianism)
23
Q
The principal of respect for human life
A
Human life at every stage of development and decline is precious and therefore worthy of protection and respect. It is always wrong directly to attack and innocent
Implication: technologies that terminate human life after conception or before natural death are evil
24
Q
The principal of particpation
A
The human person has a right not to be shut out from participating in those institutions that are necessary for human fulfillment
Work is more than a way to make a living it is a form of continuing participation in God’s creation
This is stated as a “negative right” (violation of the guideline of respect
25
The principle of subsidiarity
Limits government by insisting that no higher eve log organization should perform any function that can be handled efficiently and effectively at a lower level of organization that is closer to the problems and closer to the ground
Encouraged decentralized voluntary associations
Note: these principals fall into the liberal/conservative paradigm
26
Guideline of care (what are the two ides aligned with the guideline of care)
Preference for the poor and vulnerable
If the good of all, the common good, is to prevail, preferential protection must move toward those affected adversely by the absence of power and the presence of privation
Solidarity
We are our brothers and sisters’ keepers we are one human family, loving out neighbor has global dimensions in an independent world
27
Guideline of respect
Stewardship
“The catholic tradition insists that we show our respect for the creator by our stewardship of creation.”
28
Death by robots
US citizens die 3 years sooner than people in other rich countries-increased US deaths driven by less educated working age adults
1 robot per 1,000 workers=8 male deaths and 4 female deaths per 100,000 workers aged 45-54
Drug overdose, suicide, homicide, cancer, CV problems
29
Migrating factors death by robots
Medicaid/UI generosity (overdose, suicide)
Pro union policies, high minimum wages (suicide)
Maybe less opioid availbilty (weak association)
30
Robots coming for our jobs optimistc scenario
Robots wil relieve humans from physical and mental drudgery
Robots will complement humans not replace them
Increased productivity will be tide that lifts all boats
Humans will have more time for lesiure and creative pursuits
Human will beneift from cheaper and better products and services
31
Robots coming for our jobs Pessmistic scenario
Robots will replace human workers snce they will be smarter and stronger than humans
Humans will lose sense of purpose
There will be masters and serfs
The time its different
32
Systems that dissimulate by design
Commercial thermostats
Institutional malware
Commercial sensors and law enforcement stingrays and dirt boxes to capture cell phone data
33
Nudging (karen Yeung)
using behavioral science insights to influence individual choices “libertarian paternalism”
Uses the framework o human floruishing dignity respect and autonomy
34
Hyper nudge
insights gained through big data are used to channel user choices in the direction preferred by the choice architect through processes that are both subtle and powerful
35
Dynamic reconguration
refinement of induvial choice environment, induvial data feedback incorporation of population wide trends. This is what turns a nudge into a hyper nudge
36
Examples of a hypernudge
search engine results or news feeds designed to increase time online or target applications Amazon presentation of products
37
The social dilemma 3 goals
engagement, growth, advertisement
38
The social dilemmma
Use of psychological manipulation and behavior modification (based on an asymmetry of knowledge
39
Whats the issue with the choice nudge lies chapter
All business care about is profit.”
“Corporations are greedy.”
Organizations have objectives and are organized to fulfill those objectives
40
Survelliance Capitalism
Describes a market driven process where the commodity for sale is personal datat and behavioral predictions based on the aggregation of such data is captured via the internet or other means that can be digitized
This activity is often carried out by companies that provide us with free online services such as search engines (Google) and social media platforms (facebook
41
The techniques of surveillance capitalism can and are being applied to the?
government/political sphere
42
Key criticisms of surveillance capitalism
Invasion of privacy
Manipulation of behavior
Concentration of power
Lack of transparency
Use of people as “mere means”
43
Themes of survelliance captialism
About us, not for us”
“Inevitable outgrowth of digital technology”
Attribution of agency (free will) to technologies (example: search engines retain information
*People as raw materials rather than ends in themselves
44
Zuboff
privacy is a social problem, privacy is not private, freedom from uncertainty is no freedom
45
Surveillance capitalism started with internet companies but now seeking surveillance divided
A society is built that creates human needs, then surveillance capitalism exploits those needs
46
Is capitalism ethical?
In its pure, theoretical form, a good “yes” argument can be made under natural law, ultraism, and moral libertinism
47
Real world issues associated with captialism
Government
Concentration of wealth and power
Unfairness of goods of fortune
Greed can lead to good or bad
48
Hagans two cents
A system built on free will works best in a culture made up of ethical people
The merger of state and corporate power must be avoided
49
Autonomous (self-driving) vehicles
Accident avoidance-deciding who lives and who dies
50
Electric cars (EVs)
Environmental impact
Supply chain issues-sourcing of minerals disposition of batteries
Opportunity costs-could the extra cost of electric cars be better spent elsewhere
51
level 0 layers of autonomy
all major systems are controlled by humans
52
level 1 layers of autonomy
certain systems such as cruise control or automatic braking may be controlled by the car one at a time
53
level 2 layers of autonomy
The car offers at least two simultaneous automated functions, like acceleration and steering, but requires humans for operation
54
level 3 layers of autonomy
The car can management all safety-critical functions under certain conditions, but the driver is expected to take over when alerted
55
Level 4 layers of autonomy
The car is fully autonomous in some driving scenarios though not all
56
Level 5 layers of autonomy
The car is completely capable of self-driving in every situation
57
Will your electric car save the world or wreck it?
The case for EVs assumes carbon emissions cause catastrophic climate change. Yields a metric that works well with a utilitarian perspective or the CST stewardship principle.
58
Natural perspective electric cars
Rule 1: don’t directly attack a human good, don’t commit an evil act to achieve some good end
Rule 2: guideline of care: where possible and practical seek to advance the good of others (but not if it violated rule 1)
59
Social engineering oppurtunites
o Wasteful and polluting cars
o Unhealthy food/drinks
o Wasteful insufficient big houses
o Low density subrarban living
o Poor health habits
o Bad child rearing
o Unnecessary travel
o Optimize travel talents and employment
o Healthcare spending
60
Green says technology is hallmark or morality... meaning
technology is whether is influences good or bad moral actions
61
It’s a synthesis of various doctrines. As such, various commentators include different elements and emphasize different aspects
Catholic social teaching
62
Catholic social teaching attemtpts to balance?
Attempts to balance respect for human liberty, including the right to private property and subsidiarity, and concern for the whole society, including the weakest, and poorest
63
Privacy
is the ability of an induvial or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves, and thereby express themselves selectively
64
From the perspective of those minimizing the significant of a right to privacy
Privacy is only a concern of aging old-school civil libertarians; it’s not relevant to today’s concerns-equity, inclusion, crime, terrorism, etc.
We can’t do anything about loss of privacy anyway
Privacy provides care for: drug dealers, smugglers, tax evaders, money launders, child molesters, human trafficker’s, terrosts, insurrections, cyber bullies
65
Privacy advocate Greenwald on “only bad people seek privacy”
He concluded that only people who will seek out privacy are bad people, and we should have all kinds of reasons for avoiding
He says “doing bad things” means doing something that poses meaningful challenges to the exercise of our own power
66
Natural law on privacy
Privacy connected to concepts of dignity, freedom, integrity
67
Utiliarnism on privacy
privacy “right” contingent on the situation
68
Moral libertarnism on privacy
right to be left alone unless an agreement is made otherwise
69
Privacy in the "Good view"
that contributes to human flourishing and well-being. It allows people to develop personality, expresses their options, and pursue their interests without undue interference or coercion
70
Privacy as Duty
that respects the dignity, autonomy and freedom of others. It requires people to refrain from invading or disclosing the personal information or affairs o others without their consent or a valid reason.
71
Is privacy found in the US consitution?
Is it found in the US constitution?
Not explicitly, but
* 1st amendment protects the privacy of beliefs
* 3rd amendment protects the privacy of the home against the use of it for housing soldiers
* 4th amendment protects privacy again unreasonable searchers
* 5th amendment protects against self-incrimination which in turn protects the privacy of personal information
* 9th amendment justifies the bill of rights to protect privacy in ways not specially provided in the first 8 amendments
72
Supreme court decisions on privavcy
a right to privacy exists, but it must be balanced agasitn compelling interests
73
Examples of privacy
HIPAA, FERPA, wiretap laws
74
Know rights to privacy!
Police need a warrant to enter your home, if you consent to search the police don’t need a warrant
Police can ask for your spouses, guess, and roommates can ask for access to their materials if they don’t have a warrant
Even if your arrested, police can only search your phone under limited circumstances
If the police can’t get into your computer, you don’t have to help them or anser questions
Police can search your computer or portable devise at the border without the warrant
75
Eternal Vigligance
is the price of liberty, Snowden’s NSA revelations were just examples of a larger continually evolving problem
76
Problems with the traditional approaches to privacy
The pace of change of technology overwhelms the ability of traditional means of law making and regulation to respond.
Today’s privacy threats are often hidden, not well-understood, and involve users trading clear, obvious, short-term benefits for subtle, long term, potentially problematic information giveaways
77
Direct overt violations of privacy by the government are now just one concern.
Indirect government violations of privacy via proxies in the private sector
Private sector entities violating privacy for commercial reasons
78
Greenwald on disenters
The renowned socialist activist Rosa Luxemburg once said, “He who does not move does not notice his chains.” ***
79
1st amendment freedom of experssion and control
Protects Americans’ rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government restrictions
“Speech” includes nonverbal, visual, and symbolic forms of expression
80
1st amendment does not protect
Perjury and fraud
Defamation and obscene speech
Incitement of panic and incitement to crime
Fighting words and sedition
81
1st amendement as a cultural touchstone
“I can say what I want. It’s a free country.” According to Google trends, “It’s a free country” had a peak in 2004 declining to 14 % of its peak in 2021
82
Thomas Paine, rabblerouser
o man of (natural law) integrity
o “He who dares not offend cannot be honest”
83
American civil liberties union defenders of hate speech
Ku Klux Klan, Nazis in Skokie, Illinois
84
First Amendment Exception: Defamation
Statement of alleged fact that is false and that harms another person
o Slander: Oral defamatory statement
o Libel: written defamatory statement
85
First amendment protection of anonymous speech
Persecuted groups and sects from time to time throughout history have been able to criticize oppressive practices and laws either anonymously or not at all
Anonymity not absolute right-cannot be used to defame for example
86
Justifications of autonomity on the internet
* Seeking help from a support group
* Reporting problems/whistleblowing
* Discussing sensitive topics
* Expressing a minority or anti-government opinion
87
Concerns with autonomity on the internet
* Increased chance of defamation, fraud
* Exploitation of children
* Escape detection from criminal activity
88
Speech control mechanism
o 1st amendment exceptions
o Broadcast rules
o Shouting down live speakers at events
o Internet regulation (By law or extra-legal enforced preferences)
Government use of private companies or proxies
Content moderation
Terms of service
Deplatforming
Twitter mobs
89
Controlling access to the internet: Section 230 of the CDA
Provides immunity to internet service provider (ISP) that publishes user generated content provided its actions do not rise toto the level of content provider
90
Controlling access to information on the internet-
Children online protection Act (COPA 1998
Imposed penalties for exposing minors to harmful material on the web
Ruled as unconstitutional by the supreme court
91
Controlling Access to information on the internet: Internet filter
Software that blocks access certain web sites that contain material deemed inappropriate or offensive
Uses a combination of URL, keyword, and dynamic content filtering
92
Controlling access to information on the internet: Childrens internet protection act
Requires federally financed schools and libraries to block computer access to obscene material, pornography, and anything else harmful to minors
93
Criticisms to controlling access to the internet
* Transferred power over education to software companies who develop the internet filters
* Some filters are ineffective
* Penalties resulting in a loss of federal funds (E-rate) would lead to a less capable version of internet for students at poorer schools
94
Internet censorship
Control of the publishing or accessing of information on the internet
95
Forms of internet censorship
Limiting access to certain web sites
Allowing access to only some content or modified content at certain web sites
Rejecting the use of the certain keywords in search engine searchers
Tracking the internet activites of individuals
Jailing induvial for their internet use
96
Goverments that actively censor the internet
North Korea, Iran, Syria, Myanmar, China, Cuba, Egypt
97
Free speech online
United States has a form of soft censorship through pressure tactics and private sector partners
98
Examples of free speech online
COVID-19 science and medical discussion
Ukraine-Russia conflict
Hunter Biden laptop story
99
New platforms related to free speech online
Rumble, Odyssey, BittChite, Gab, Telegram, MeWe, Gettr, parler
100
Free speech online stats
**25% of people often get news form google properties, 36% from facebook (61% total)
101
Freedom: internet and speech
Universal communication
102
Control: internet and speech
o A few platforms dominate
o Can be monitored
o Cancel culture
103
Internet DE platforming
removing people from the internet platforms they use for communication
examples:
“Demonetization” on YouTube
Rejection of business by payment processors and ISPs
Rejection of business by payment processors and ISPs
Stripe and Paypal, GoDaddy, AWS
Debanking-candian trucker’s protest
“You shouldn’t have to build a new internet to post a tweet.”
104
Alleged misinformation areas
Inference of Russia in US elections, including New York post Hunter Biden laptop story
COVID-a9 origins, vaccine efficacy, value of natural immunity
Racial justice
US withdrawal from Afghanistan
US support for Ukraine
105
Tools to suppress alleged misinformation
DE platforming-banning user accounts (Trump, Covid heretics)
Visibility filtering
Direct payments from governments to big tech to “process requests” (FBI paid twitter 3.4 million)
Promoting accounts to support US military covert operations
Deception: platforms pretending to be independent when really taking orders from the government behind the scenes
Aborted DHS disinformation governance board (aka ministry of truth)
106
Sunstein on libertarian paternalism (Nudge)
People can still make a free choice but are nudged to do the right thing
107
Justifications given by Sunstein for nudging
Some people don’t know how to get where they want to go
Some people are poor planners
Some people have unrealistic expectations
No one is an expert in everything
108
Sunstein on libertarian paternalism opt in/opt out
Savings plans (cities ultradian benefits)
School lunch programs
109
Nudging assumptions and premises
Nudging relies on behavioral insights of which you may not be consciously aware
The people nudging you know your best interests and seek to promote them
The people nudging you aren’t on a power trip and have no finical or political conflicts of interest
The slippery slope won’t be problem
True, unmanipulated exercise of natural law free will is suboptimal from utilitarian perspective and therefore not important
110
Collaroy
you may not be smart enough to know your own best interest and, if you do, you might be too lazy or stupid to act rightly
111
Level one degree of nudging
make the right choice the default option or the path of the least resistance
112
Level 2 degree of nudging
Give you a treat for making the “right” choice or penalize you if you make a wrong choice
113
Level 3 degree of nudging
Put the nudging on steroids (hypernudge) by using computer-driven algorithmic decision-guidance techniques
114
Level 4 degree of nudging
Stop messing with nudging and just use force to make people do the “right” thing. Of course, you could argue that’s what the rule-of law- system does, but its scope is limited
115
Hypernudge
Insights gained through Ig data are used to channel user choices in the direction preferred by the choice architect though processes that are both subtle and powerful
116
Hypernudge uses the framework of liberal values:
dignity, respect, autonomy, democracy, but also poses a challenge to these values
117
Hypernudge dynamic reconfiguration
refinement of induvial choice environment, individual data feedback, incorporation of population-wide trends. His is what turns a nudge into hyper nudge
118
Example of a hypernudge
search engine results or news feeds designed to increase time online on targeted applications (Google), Amazon presentation of products
119
Difference between nudge and hypernudge
Nudge
-is static, general, and somewhat, transparent,
-a one size fits all basis
-visible and easy to understand
-can be designed to respect people’s autonomy and dignity
Hypernudge
-dynamic indicualized and opaque
-operates on a one-to-one basis
-is hidden and difficult to comprehend
-challenges these values (autonomy and dignity)
120
The appeal of social credit
Non-coercive-gently nudges people in the right direction
Scientific Organized and efficient
Self-enforcing and self-correcting. Can use AI
Fair, impartial
121
Chinas system with social credit system
Used To assess and monitor trustworthiness of individuals and organizations. Supports transparency and honesty
122
Whose in charge of the china social credit system ?
government, central bank, courts
123
Chinas soical credit system described as
expanded version of existing credit rating systems
124
Chinas social credit system values
harmoniousness, safety, security
125
Chinas social credit system values criticism
totalitarian
126
Ethics of social credit system
It would adopt ultraism, it would be hard for it to be natural law
They only care about the results not why you’re doing it
127
Function of money
o Medium of exchange
o Unit of account
o Store of value
o Instrument of control?
128
Money was originally
a tradable commodity or tied to such a commodity (gold or silver) The US had a gold standard. For much of the gold standard period the price of gold was fixed
129
The US gold standard largely in 1933, entirely ended in 1971
The US government confiscated the gold of citizens in 1933 at 20.67 $ and then revalued the collar at 35$/oz of gold. Citizens were not allowed to own gold again until 1974
130
We currently live under a (money)
“fiat” and fractional reserve system where the dollar “floats relative to other currencies is not redeemable for gold, anything else.
131
Under the fiat system who controls the money supply through the central bank of the united stated
The goverment
132
Problems with fiat system
Boom and bust cycles
Cantillon effect (advantage to first recipients of new money)
Tendency to inflation since the government is the largest debtor, incentive for real saving, incentive to take on debt
133
Benefits to the fiat system
Ability of the government to manage the economy through the Fed (monterary policy)
Examples: easy money to goose the economy during the pandemic current efforts to reduce inflammation
134
Boogeyman of deflation (falling prices
In a stable monetary system, prices would naturally fall as productivity increased. The result would be improvements in the standard of living, since your money would buy more and more
135
The US dollar, since the silver certificate in 1953, has depriciated by how much?
97 %
136
The US dollar since the gold certificate in1928 has depriciated by how much?
99%
137
Currently paying with cash can be a way to pay?
Anonymously
138
To avoid criminality evasion government has sought to limit?
anonymous cash payments for large transactions
139
Anonymity can be compromised through
finical intermediaries (credit card companies, frequent, buyer programs and records kept by retailers
140
Bank Secrecy Act (1970) as amended
Designed to fight money laundering fraud, financing terrorists
Requires customer identification programs, suspicious activity reports, reporting cash transactions over 10,000 $
141
Crytocurrency
A form of digital money that uses cryptography and blockchain to secure and verify transactions. Cryptocurrency is decentralized and distributed, meaning, it is not controlled or issued by any government, central authority or intermediary.
142
New bitcoins are
mined based on solving an increasing difficult algorithm. Supply is fixed and coins are progressively more difficult and computing- and energy-intensive to mine
143
Results of widely adopted crypto
undermining of governments ability to undertake monetary , fascial, and drug policy, To a libertarian, these are benefits. To Statist, these are big drawback.
144
A central bank digital currency (CBDC)
is a form of digital money that is issued and controlled by a central bank. It is designed to be legal tender and a digital equilivent of the existing fiat currency of the country. “The digital dollar”
145
CBDCs are digital but they are not
Crypto
146
Both crypto and CBDCs could eliminate
paper cash and coins and potentially be convenient to use
147
Crypto
-is largely unregulated or community regulated
-cryptos are volatile
-can be anonymous
148
CBDCS
-government
-would likely gradually depreciated money based government policy
-make every transaction trackable by government.
-would reduce or eliminate under the table payments , black markets, lemonade stands, and informal work
149
A CBDC would create new “policy tools” for managing the economy such as
Forcing you to spend some of your money during an economic downturn
Forcing you to save some of your money
Allowing government to easily turn off your money if you are disfavored based on a social credit system or a criminal or a dissident
150
CBDC pairs well with
technocratic ideas such as 15 minute cities and social credit systems
151
To some observers, CBDCs are the
“end game” for complete control of the population
152
Technoncracy
A form of government in which the decisionmakers are selected on the basis of their examples of their expertise in a given area of responsibility, particularly with scientific or technical knowledge
153
Technate
a techo-utopin state run according to technocratic
154
Technocracy proposed which type of system ?
energy-based system
155
Technoncracy rejects
democracy as elevating mediocrities. Favors selection of experts by experts to lead aspects of society. Doctors elect head doctor, etc.
156
Techoncratic impluses are ruled by
experts (Follow the Science!) vs. Populism. (Trump, yellow vest, protest)
157
World economic forum
elites planning how to restructure society
158
Dr. Fauci on court decision ending federal transportation mask mandate
public health decisions should be made by experts like him.
159
Alternatice view technocratic impluses
experts should be "on tap" not "on top." Decisions usually come down to value judgments, not "the science."
160
The problem of political authority is that
conflict guaranteed.
161
Technologies are used to control
Our enviorment and each other
162
Objectification of nature
Judeo-Christian religions and utilitarianism reinforce the idea that nature is a resource for human use.
163
Objection of people
Military control, surveillance, bureaucracy. People as cogs in the machine.
164
Examples of out of control technologies
Frankenstein's monster, kudzu
165
The revenge of unintended consequences with out of control technology
Labor-saving housework devices
Paperless office
Telecommuting / take vacation whenever you want
Smartphones
166
Master and Slaves natural law
Slavery is an inhuman system
167
Masters and salves
The Master demands not only the dependence of the Slave but also acknowledgement of the master’s superior position.
The Master hates and fears the Slave.
Masters cannot let their Slaves get too smart.
The Master needs overseers to enforce the system. Overseers are often cruel, allowing the Master to appear benevolent.
Ordinary people as indebted producers, consumers, tax donkeys.
168
Most people do not want to be free. Most people want
to be taken care of. Favor basic income, protection racket, entertainment - bread & circuses.
169
Modern democracy is largely manufactured
consent for what elites want to do. The illusion of debate is managed through enforcement of narrow "Overton windows."
170
Society is increasingly atomized and homogenized to
minimize opposition to the regime. What interest and identity groups remain are pitted against each other to create chaos while the ruling elite remains largely unchallenged. Steam blown off at the “slave suggestion box.”
171
Most people just want to be left alone, so they
compromise with those willing to push an agenda over a long time horizon. Over time gradual change adds up to radical change.
172
Classical liberal tolerance leads to
Marxist intolerance
173
The worst crime is resisting the
regime or undermining its legitimacy.
174
Clash of world views
Western civilization = classical liberalism + Judeo-Christian ethics.
175
Article Technocracy now written by
conservative Christian for a sympathetic audience.
176
Article technocracy now summary
Author’s description of modern conception of reality as individual subjectivity and scientific facts without regard to human nature
Morality, love, beauty (subjective)
Chemistry, biology, physics (facts)
The technocrats have no interest in ultimate goods (basic human goods), presumably since they don’t buy into natural law.
Technocrats reject the higher goods (religious) and raise up choice and autonomy as higher goods.
Technocracy as an alternate religion with each of us gods.
Author’s solution: local communities of the like-minded.
177
Art that attempts to wake people up
Brave New World, 1984, Demolition Man, The Matrix, Terminator, Orphan Black, World War Z
178
Technocratic value system
values the good of the system, has its ends
179
Whats an alternatic system to techocratic value system ?
Spontaneous order
