Past Present Future

The History of Bad Ideas: Value-Free Tech


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For today’s episode in the history of bad ideas David talks to philosopher Shannon Vallor about the myth that technology can be value free. It’s easy to see why Silicon Valley is so keen on the idea that it’s never the fault of the tech, only of the people who use it. But why do we let them get away with it? Where did this idea come from? How has it also poisoned arguments about gun laws and nuclear weapons? And what can we do to fight it and try to get technology that works with – not against – basic human values?

Out now on PPF+: A bonus episode with historian of religion Alec Ryrie exploring ‘The Age of Hitler’. When did not being like Hitler rather than trying to be like Jesus become the benchmark of moral conduct? And why is that period coming to an end? To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening sign up now to PPF+ https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus

Next time on The History of Bad Ideas: Polycrisis

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Past Present FutureBy David Runciman

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