Arizona State University: Technology for a ‘Good’ Anthropocene: Navigating the Vicious Cycle of Technological Progress and Unintended Consequences

Almost ten years ago, the Ecomodernist Manifesto argued for accelerating technological progress to make the Anthropocene a good era. Independent from the answers given there, the question raised by the Manifesto remains virulent: how to achieve a better, perhaps even a ‘good’ Anthropocene? Undoubtedly, further technological progress will be of marked, if not crucial importance for this. Technological optimism, however, tends to forget about unintended and often undesired consequences of progress. Increasingly, new technology is needed to overcome or repair the consequences of older technology. This leads to an unending spiral of technological progress, the generation of unintended consequences beyond desirable ones, and further technological progress needed to deal with them without jeopardizing the resilience of modern societies and humanity as a whole. This ‘vicious circle’ characterizes the Anthropocene to date. According to the experience so far, and considering its dynamics, doubts arise as to whether this circle will be helpful for creating a ‘good’ Anthropocene with resilient societies and a sustainable relation with Nature. Instead, it might create new vulnerabilities, for example concerning critical infrastructures. In this presentation, I will explain these broader dynamics of technological progress and call for tentative strategies for approaching sustainability and resilience beyond the ‘vicious circle.

Location: Walton Center for Planetary Health room 560