Reflections
- the book is mainly about journalism and the introduction discusses the tension of trying to talk about universal principals and the experiences of local cultures
- they make the case that there might be some relatively universal values like ‘seeking truth’ but that these are applied in various ways in the local context
- they also write about the idea of ‘the other’ as an essential part of how cultures understand themselves and that these understandings are also complex and shift over time
- the first chapter on technology introduces this idea of technological instrumentalism as => “the view, inherited from Aristotle, that technology is neutral and unfolds of its own character” (pg. 11) they critique this view stating that it excludes engineers and scientists from responsibility, promotes values that channel our resources into the myth of the technological sublime (pg. 12) and promotes the idea that everything requires a better technical fix.
- Very interesting idea from Heidegger, human beings do not stand apart from technology : “Our life-world has a technological texture that stipulates for us what existence means. In Heidegger’s terms, the modern epoch is technological, and Being is technicized as a result” Also this idea that “media technologies are powerful mechanisms for reconstructing an inauthentic humaness” (pg. 14)
- The chapter goes on to talk about the Tao and how humaness needs to be connected to the world and instrumentalist technology is something that tends to disconnect
- The book has introduced me to the idea of instrumentalism and has made a strong case for a different way of talking about the role of tech in our lives.
- It also suggests that the way we think about the global / local relationship should remain complex and a work in progress
- The reason I picked up the book was to help me think about the idea of ethics outside of the UK/local perspective and I think I still need to keep this in mind. That being said – for what I’m doing on this course, it makes sense for me to situate my thinking in the local as this is what I know best.
- I think I need to look for more readings and discussions on the theme of ethics and technology and globalisation.
Reference
Muhammad Ayish and Rao, S. (2013) Explorations in Global Media Ethics. Routledge.
