Technology, Good or Bad?

There is a spurious view that an essential aspect of the Pagan Weltanschauung is a “Back to the Earth” philosophy that rejects technology and a lifestyle that incorporates technology. That being said, I do assert there are two characteristics of this “Back to the Earth” philosophy that are essential to the Pagan Weltanschauung that can be incorporated very well with technology. The first is a rejection of the Last Man ideal in which comfort, ease, and pleasure are valued more than struggle, overcoming and excellence. In a technologically advanced society it is possible for people to live a lifestyle where they can have a sedated existence in relative comfort while they are easily entertained. A good example of this is an episode of Friends where the two characters Joey and Chandler sit on their lazy boys then order pizza and have it delivered to their neighbors apartment so they do not have to leave their chairs, and then cancel their order of pop out of fear that they will have to go to the bathroom and thus be forced to get up off of their chairs. This would be impossible in a society where they are out in the cold and they must be hunt or gather their food or die. There is also the aspect of technology that allows easy access to information, thus helping people increase in knowledge. There is also the aspect of technology that allows for the creation of gymnasiums and superior nutrition so that people might attain a higher degree of athleticism. Right now the fact that I am at my computer with internet access gives me access to a virtually endless source of knowledge, and also the fact that I have a proper lighting so that I can read this information helps as well. This would not be possible if I was in a cold hut in a society where candles are luxury due to a paucity of them. It is also a great boon to have access to a gymnasium with a good weightlifting facility and cardiovascular training equipment. I am also fond of the fact that nutritional labels list the macronutrient profile of the food, that I can buy a multivitamin that has an amount of vitamins and minerals that could not obtained from whole food sources, and that I can purchase supplements that make my brain and body work better. I know a possible response can be technology created hydrogenated fats which are extremely unhealthy. This is true, but hydrogenated fats were created out of economic concerns to have fats that have a longer shelf life. It is not a question of technology here, but a responsible use of technology. Technology has also created protein powders that are essential to a serious bodybuilding program. The reality is that technology has created the conditions to achieve a physical and mental excellence that could not be achieved in more primitive conditions, even though it has created the conditions to allow for the Last Man. The evil is not technology itself, but a cultural value system that utilizes it for purely economic concerns and promotion of base utility.

The second point is that “living close to Nature” will open up the deeper aspects of reality through an aesthetic appreciation of nature. I agree with the feature of this view that nature has a deeper aspect that speaks of forms and principles that transcend our common perspective. This is why a walk through a forested area, gazing at the night sky, beholding the expansive sea are experiences that I feel to be good for the development of our being. I just would like to have these experiences after a nutritious meal and a hot shower after a good night sleep in a bed. There is a possible response that technology is destroying our environment, and thus depleting it of its aesthetic value. My response would be for the promotion of a proper use of technology that does not abuse our environment, but uses our environment intelligently and also cherishes it for its aesthetic value.