A TECHNO-HUMANIST AGENDA

Manilka Ediriweera moots a balance between progress and human wellbeing

We are at a point in time where humanity is the most powerful it’s ever been. From flying across the world in a matter of hours and having conversations with people living thousands of miles away, to fighting off diseases and attempting to send missions to Mars, there has been continuous progress.

However, not everyone thinks this is good for humanity.

With all the wars, abuse of technology and exploitation taking place, people aren’t sure whether progress has actually been good for us.

Some feel that progress (including the Industrial Revolution) is destroying our planet and making us miserable. Others contend that the world is only becoming worse and are worried about the future.

And it doesn’t help that we have to constantly worry about climate change, war, and economic and political instability. This prevents us from believing in progress; and we spend more time trying to find solutions. When this happens, there is a greater tendency to reject new ideas and technology, and stifle progress.

At a time when pessimism dominates our cultural imagination, The Techno-Humanist Manifesto presented by Jason Crawford provides a bold defence of progress as a factor for human development.

However, he claims that technological development alone isn’t enough for progress and that we need a human centred philosophy of progress: a new way of thinking that supports the future.

And indeed, that’s what techno humanism is about.

Techno humanism is the belief that science, technology and industry are inherently beneficial to human wellbeing. There are three key pillars at the heart of this manifesto – viz. progress, humanism and agency – which Crawford believes will form the foundation of what he calls ‘the progress movement.’

The first pillar is progress, and it’s considered a historical fact and something that’s very real. Over the past several years, human beings have been able to achieve progress in various aspects such as life expectancy, literacy, education and so on. So techno humanism believes that something right has been happening and feels it should keep going on.

This is where the second pillar of humanism comes in. Techno humanism doesn’t defend science, technology or industry for itself but rather, for what it achieves for people. Humanism is the belief that good is what helps human beings flourish – i.e. to live longer, healthier and happier lives, with more choices and opportunities to thrive.

In other words, humanism puts human wellbeing first and feels that we should work to make human life better.

The third pillar is agency, which contends that we are much more than mere passive observers but active participants instead, whose future is shaped by our choices. Agency is about taking responsibility for outcomes and acknowledging the potential for progress even in uncertainty. Crawford says that we’re builders, inventors and creators, and calls for more of this.

This is where we return to the pessimism that dominates our thoughts. While technological advancements are taking place, he believes that without a belief in progress, society is unable to imagine what to build or where to go.

So what techno humanism offers is a different mindset that helps us face challenges without denying them.

The Techno-Humanist Manifesto also discusses how messy progress can be. It doesn’t claim that technology is perfect or that it’s all we need; instead, it says that every advancement can create new problems. But on the bright side, we can solve those problems too.

Crawford calls this attitude ‘solutionism,’ which is the belief that we should try to solve problems using technology, education, policy or whatever works best.

This idea is a smart balance between optimism that everything will work out and pessimism, where nothing will ever work out. It acknowledges that the problems caused by progress are real but says there are solutions.

However, though the manifesto carries hope, it also leaves out some important points. For instance, one can argue that it pushes aside and ignores the real concerns about the limits of progress and the risks associated with it.

Despite admitting that progress is messy, Crawford believes that with enough effort, we’ll always find solutions in time.

At a point where the stakes are pretty high however, can more growth, tech and people really help?

It’s hard to say without considering what that means for the planet and people who are already struggling.

Nevertheless, what’s important is to make sure that progress remains thoughtful and not reckless; and to ensure that people, values and wisdom are at the centre of progress. After all, the goal isn’t about achieving more technology or progress but ensuring a better future for humanity.

Humanism puts human wellbeing first