The advance of technology is unstoppable and will rearrange our society whether we like it or not. At least, that’s what French sociologist Jacques Ellul said in 1954. Take the car. When it was invented, there was a total reorganisation of society. Governments had to regulate it. More job opportunities opened up for people because cars needed to be built and the infrastructure to support them needed to be constructed. In turn, those jobs needed teachers and new educational institutions to produce capable workers. Read full article here
Culture
The Priest in the Arena
The phrase “man in the arena” has been popularized in recent years, but a lesser known, more dangerous archetype is the “priest in the arena”. This figure is responsible for a process called theocratic capture, where an institution surrenders to a cult demanding unaccountable authority, fueled by claims to privileged knowledge. These cults often target powerful institutions and attempt to monopolize conversations with scaremongering tactics and hostile treatment of allies. It is important to identify and stop theocratic capture before it can gain control. Read full article here
Merv
May 29, 2023
