How We Lost Ourselves to Technology—and How We Can Come Back
Tuesday, 4 November 2025 · 1 min read · Listen to the episode ↗
The discussion centers on "the machine," reflecting on how technology, particularly since the Industrial Revolution, has prioritized logic over intuition, leading to a mechanistic society. Insights from thinkers like Lewis Mumford critique this shift, emphasizing the need to reconcile our relationship with technology. Additionally, the implications of AI, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain in this context suggest that while these innovations may enhance efficiency, they further the disconnection from nature and humanity.
The speaker discusses "the machine," a term used by writers like Iris Thomas, D.H. Lawrence, George Orwell, and Mary Shelley to describe a mechanistic society that has emerged since the Industrial Revolution. This society prioritizes logic, reason, and science, often sidelining intuition and religion. The concept highlights a troubling shift towards a world where technology increasingly replaces nature, encompassing modern innovations like smartphones and robots while reflecting a broader historical worldview. Insights from Lewis Mumford, a notable 19th-century critic of technology, offer a critical perspective on the evolving relationship between humanity and technological advancement.
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