The Book
“I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success. Such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything.”
“The dignity of humans consists in choice”
What basic effects are we creating with our fast and broad technological evolution?
What instinct-like human motivations brought about this unprecedented development?
In what ways is this development changing our humanity and what can we do about it?
The book <Voluntary Enslavement> argues that in our current times of highly sped up technological development, keeping with the age old approach of human technology creation and use (to apply the tools we are capable of inventing, if they give us an advantage) will inevitably reduce diversity, undermine choice and freedom, and displace values and beliefs from human life.
The book examines the fueling of technological progression through some of our primal, instinct-like motivations, such as curiosity or our human herd mentality. It is described how fairly recent historical developments have “supercharged” these natural human behaviors. The systematic over-empowerment of these innate, deep-seated inclinations is becoming increasingly detrimental to our specie’s long-term health and survival.
Basic features of an improved technology culture – i.e., one that sustains a diverse and free human experience – are also discussed, as are ways we can contribute to such a transition.