POST-KNOWLEDGE: THE EXTINCTION OF KNOWLEDGE IN OUR TECHNO-SCIENTIFIC CULTURE
POST-KNOWLEDGE: THE EXTINCTION OF KNOWLEDGE IN OUR TECHNO-SCIENTIFIC CULTURE

Summary/Abstract: The monopolization of our techno-scientific culture by digital information technology, the Technopoly has unintentionally resulted in the extinction of knowledge or postknowledge, by reducing knowledge to systems of symbols—formalized algorithmichierarchies of symbol-systems without external reference; a totalistic virtuality, or realvirtuality. The extinction of knowledge or post-knowledge has resulted in two mutuallyreinforcing situations. One situation is the rise of a new elite of technology experts. Theother situation is the dummification of people. These two mutually reinforcing situationsfurther result in an illegitimate role reversal between people and their machines. Themachines become treated as smart; people become treated as dummies. The role reversalof machines and people reinforces the monopoly of digital technology over everything.The monopoly of digital techno-scientific culture, the Technopoly, becomes acceptedwithout question and without criticism. However, there is a way to retrieve knowledge,and that way is through restoring the (Ionian) tradition of critical discussion within allour institutions. Critical discussion can be restored by increasing democratic participation in our techno-scientific culture, which amounts to implementing a Socratic socialarchitecture.

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