Synthesis of Postman's Technopoly

Synthesis of Postman’s Technopoly

America, watch out! Citizens you are living in a society in which technology is scheming to control your lives! Wake up!

This is Postman’s prevailing theme in his work entitled, Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology (1992). In my opinion, he has a delusional view of the state of the world and society. I will be discussing some key elements in the following synthesis of Postman’s book.

Morality in a post industrial culture.

Let us begin with Postman’s view of morality, a recurring theme throughout the book. In my opinion, Postman believes that religion was once the basis of one’s morality. With the development of inventions from individuals who suffered struggles between their religious beliefs and their advanced intellect, a shift in morality formed leading us to today’s post industrial culture. Postman postulates that technological inventions have subverted religious morality and created a divorce of intellect. He presumes that the advances in technology are embedded so deeply that it began to define the culture choking the moral and spiritual beliefs from society. Postman envisions the rise of advancing technologies as an enemy to the culture of society desiring to suppress and control its members. This rise of technology has created technolopies that subjugates culture. He discusses the bureaucracies that have formed and how information is controlled and disseminated according to the views of those in authority. He believes that the rise of technolopies have created a society in which individuals are mindless drones unable to think for themselves. In essence, Technopoly is devoid of a moral center and it focused on efficiency, interest and economic progress.

He hypothesizes that the advanced thinking of the sciences has created a technopoly in which humans are objectified and the only truth is based in science. Postman’s perception is that all sciences are essentially a form of storytelling. This storytelling is discrediting “God” and faith based morality. This leads to “scientism” and the hope and belief that some “science” can provide a solid source of moral authority.

Postman attempts to make the point that religious traditions were simply a means to regulate and provide value to information for its followers by proposing that the Bible is theory. He theorizes this is done due to the meaning, clarity and belief of the moral authority in past cultures. This authority has now been given to technolopies. For instance, Postman compares the saying, “The computer knows” or “the computer determined” to the saying “God’s will”. He supposes that today we have devalued the human capacity for technology and replaced God with technology. People no longer question technology but rather blindly follow.

I disagree with Postman’s view of morality in post industrial culture. I do not believe society has divorced itself from intellect or morality. I believe that spirituality and religion still play a vital role in the morality of societies. In addition to religion, governmental bureaucracies have also imposed moral behaviors upon its citizens in the form of laws and policy. However, I will admit that immorality seems to be rampant in the world today yet immorality has existed since Biblical times. Additionally, I do not believe that we can blame advances in technology for what may appear to be a decline in morality. I will admit that technology available today has created a rich environment in which immorality can cultivate in individuals. Also, today’s media may have exacerbated the availability of knowledge of the immorality committed as opposed to the past creating the appearance of a societal decline in morality.

I obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology with a criminal justice emphasis before acquiring my special education master’s degree and certification. I was taught about mores constructed by the cultural society in which one resides. These mores are often referred to as morals. Society imposes these behavioral standards for the “good” of its members. These may often come from spiritual beliefs, for religions place moral standards on its followers, such as the Ten Commandments of the Bible. Another example is the government, which has developed laws for the safety and well being of its citizens. However, personally I believe that all people are born with an innate sense of morality, a consciousness of what is right and wrong.

The purpose of education in a technopoly.

We will next examine the purpose of education in a technopoly. Postman continues to support his theory that technology increases the information supply to eventually breakdown the psychic tranquility and social meaningless experiences, memories or imaginations. In chapter four, Postman refers to schools as a means of controlling information. This is done through the guise of curriculum. As an educator, I believe that it is important and necessary to give structure and organization to information taught in schools.

Postman states, “In Technopoly, we improve the education of our youth by improving what are called “learning technologies” (pg. 170). Technolopies are interested in making learning more efficient. Postman believes education should address the question “What is learning for?” (pg. 171). He feels education should be more philosophically based asking why instead of how. He basis is made upon the notion that all education philosophy addresses what learning is for. He hypothesizes that education has always served to promote some political, spiritual or social idea often portrayed through the use of symbols. Education also serves as a way to compete with other countries for economic survival and ensuring that students will have a good job. He supports his stance by citing a presidential commission.

Postman believes an education should acquaint students with the important aspects of their culture. One problem is that a Technopoly produce an unfathomable amount of information that is impossible to organize into a logical educational program. The second is in a Technopoly; students will struggle to determine what it takes to be successful only after they have establish a reason to be successful. His response to residing in a Technopoly is being a loving resistance fighter.

Education is the best avenue for a culture to address a problem. Postman states to combat the power of Technopoly students should be given a sense of coherence in their studies, sense of purpose, meaning and interconnectedness in what they learn (pg. 185-186). In Technopoly the curriculum consists of “courses of study” which is an assortment of subjects. The curriculum does not integrate a central set of ideas or attitudes in all of its components. Therefore, public education is failing because it lacks a moral, social or intellectual center.

Postman coins the “ascent of humanity” using Jacob Bronoskwi’s The Ascent of Man as a foundational concept we yearn to discover knowledge. He feels the sciences must be joined with the arts. Education should be a continuous story with creativeness intermingling artistic imagination and scientific intuition. The subject-matter curriculum that exists can be modified to accommodate this ideal. Concepts taught would scaffold with a deepening and widening of understanding beginning in kindergarten and extending through collegial studies. Postman’s theme of the ascent of humanity gives a nontechnical, noncommercial definition of education (pg. 187). Education will bring an awareness of the origins, growth of knowledge, and knowledge of systems. Education should focus on history with a scientific mode of thinking and disciplined use of language. He proposes that every teacher be a history teacher. Teachers should teach not only the subject but also the history of the subject providing students with an ideal of how and what we know. By teaching each subject whether it be biology or mathematics, as a history will produce a connectedness.

In teaching the history of the subject, students should also be exposed to the philosophy of the discipline. Students should be encourage to question and arrive at their own understanding of the event or concept. Students should be about be able to determine falsities through the teaching of semantics. Students should also have courses in technology and religion with an emphasis the expression of the classical forms.

In conclusion, Postman is in effect proposing a curriculum with a presentation of all subjects in the history of humanity’s development teaching the philosophies of science, history, language, technology and religion.

In today’s society, I believe education is a right. We have federal legislation that entitles every child a free and appropriate education. Over the past few years, attendance has been an important initiative. Student attendance is mandatory for those enrolled at a school. Parents are informed through the Student Code of Conduct manual and by phone calls that student truancy will have legal ramifications. Parents can be ordered to pay fines or serve jail sentences for failure to send their kids to school. When students ask why they have to come to school, I reply because if you don’t mom or dad will go to jail. Parents are more concerned with a students with education for often students do not care about receiving an education especially during the developmental years. Students often see school as a social club, a place to hang with friends.

What is learning for? Why do we learn? Learning is imposed on students in school when children come to an age to be formally educated. However, a baby will mouth and explore objects that he/she comes into contact with as an infant. Children are inquisitive and ask “why” questions incessantly. Therefore, I believe it is a natural desire to learn. On the other hand, as we mature learning may be seen as a means to an end, an opportunity to achieve a desired goal.

The educational system in America today has its flaws and limitations. I feel that teachers are not adequately trained especially in developing higher order thinking. Although this is stressed in faculty meetings I attend, I find that many of my fellow colleagues struggle with developing and providing instruction in these skills. In addition, the funding and monetary support is inadequate to meet the needs. Educators are being asked to perform and produce results of student learning without the resources. I also have issues and concerns with the assessment and accountability system.

The role of technology in education.

In chapter one, Postman makes statements about a “psychic battle” and “children who can’t or won’t learn to read”. He attributed this to the advancement and availability of technology to children. He believes that because of television and other technologies that children are not interested in reading print and/or learning in the traditional program.

Postman considers that under Technopoly it is necessary to introduce computers to the classroom just as closed-circuit television and film. Technology is introduced to make learning more efficient. Technology can serve to gain student interest and motivation. In my experience, students are more engaged when working with technology.

I also believe technology can make instruction more effective. Technology development has exploded and has produced a variety of tools and resources for educators to use in promoting and enhancing student learning. A few years ago every classroom in our district resources overhead LCD projectors and a Smart Airliner. The school also provided each teacher at our school with document cameras. These tools were intended to help teachers engage students. Our school district also partners with Data seam to help in medical research. We have Apple iMac computers that are on a grid system. When these computers are not being used they are assisting in medical research.

I incorporate technology into my classroom. I use computer software programs for both reading and math to provide my students with an individual learning experience. These students are engaged and motivated to learn. I also use Smart Senteo LE, remote clicker system, for student assessment whenever possible. This system is provides students with immediate feedback as they are shown if their answers are correct/incorrect after each question. As an educator, I can also evaluate student learning immediately. This software also provides graphs of student responses and performance results as well as allowing for custom test questions.

In today’s society the vast amount of technology available for educational is colossal. Applications from computers to iPads to cell phones are available to provide children with educational opportunities at an instant at any time. Children can also learn and interact with children across the world using a computer with Internet connection and a web cam. They could also virtually tour museums and art galleries. They can virtually dissect a frog or fly an airplane. Technology definitely provides opportunities and means to make education not only more efficient but also more effective.

My personal view of Postman’s depiction of reality.

In my personal opinion Postman has a distorted and delusional sense of reality. His paradoxical view of society is portrayed in his writing as though reading a science fiction novel. Postman humanizes technology and proposes a divorce of faith and intellect with advancing technology.

Postman uses religion as a recurring theme in his argument of a decline in morality. He believes that a progression of technology is giving rise to a technopoly that will subjugate culture. He feels “progress” has held to the decline of the Bible and spiritual authority upon which society was founded. I do not agree with Postman, technological progress is not to blame for a decline in morals or societal problems.

Postman proposes that information is the means by which human creativity will end. He asserts that “information” is an “enemy” and is dangerous. He claims innovations, such as the Gutenberg, have attempted to control information through books. He claims society’s gluttonous desire for information will lead to self-destruction. I believe his doomsday claims are ludicrous.

His deluded perception of reality is further evident by his ideals of the use of technology will ultimately render society to a bunch mindless people unable to think for their selves but rather relying upon technologies to think for them. He believes technology has cast a magical spell over humans leaving us captivated and awestruck. He then uses medical technologies as an example of this evil. He feels that doctors are being controlled by technology and the medical profession has placed the patient on the back burner and relies upon technology for a diagnosis.

Postman’s comparison of computers to humans is ridiculous. He believes the computer reigns sovereign over human experiences and “thinks” better than humans. However, a computer is simply a machine that is programmed to give a conclusion- an answer. It can not make decisions as a human brain can. Postman had a lucid thought when he stated that any machine cannot duplicate the mental life of humans.

In closing, I feel Postman’s Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology (1992) is jam-packed with rants and outrageous claims of devious machines lurking in the midst strategizing to take over humans. His whimsical view the culture in which we live is outlandish. He attempts to prove his views leaves him grasping at straws and writing in circles.