Neil Postman and the Critique of Technology (In Memory of Neil Postman Who Died on October 5,2003)

Abstract

This (by no means exhaustive) survey of Postman’s work reflects on his penetrating analyses of contemporary technology. He focused attention on the ways technology today, especially the television and the computer, inevitably change us. The essential questions he asks us to ask (and answer) are, How does technology affect us? Is it for good or ill? and Must we accept all technological advances? Postman recognized the current dominance and autonomy of technology as well as the concomitant dangers and consequently made the case and the plea for the reassertion of human over technological values.

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