In “From Tools to Technocracy,” Neil Postman once again begins the chapter with the work of another author, Karl Marx, to establish his argument that technology can be a catalyst to determine how certain events develop within a society. It is because of those events that the physical life of that society or the structure of their belief system is affected. To prove that technology is a catalyst, Postman classifies three types of societies. They are tool-using, technocracies, and technopolies cultures. The tool-using and technocracies cultures are the two that are analyzed throughout this chapter. Postman emphasizes it’s the way in which the technology is use and its purpose that determines whether that society has a tool-using or technocracies culture.
What I found interesting in this chapter was the description of Francis Bacon, who Postman described as the first man of the technocratic age. I found his story to be interesting because he had a very modern way of thinking along with strong beliefs about the philosophy of science during the 16th century. Bacon was right in believing invention and science could have major effects on the progression of mankind. Because of certain technologies such as the microscope, the stethoscope, and the x-ray machine and many others, it has allowed the medical field to advance in ways no body from the 16th century every imagined the field of science would.
What does he mean by tool-using and technocracies?
Great grammar and excellent points made! I would’ve probably just described what each type of society represented, but this was a good piece to read.