Technopoly Part 2

Technology has now become not only a part of culture, but also a state  of mind. Anybody who is an expert in the use of technology in preexisting fields, is given "priestly status. " In a way, i can see that there is some truth to this. The really intelligent people from high school, who we viewed as "nerds" were always technologically advanced yet they were also noted as those who will be most successful in life. Clearly, there was a correlation between how good someone is with technology and whether they are successful or not. This does parallel to "Computers" where Bill Gates, the creator of Microsoft, turned out to to be one of the richest men on the planet.
Postman continues to address other aspects of technology like Scientism, which sits on three main ideas: First of all, the methodology of classic science can be adopted and used in the study of human behavior. Second, social science fundamental principles can be utilized to create a productive society. Lastly, and most discerningly, faith in science becomes a comprehensive belief system “that gives meaning to life, as well as a sense of well-being, morality, and even immortality” (147)
Postman's remedy for the takeover  of technology is to try to look at technology with a wary eye. He suggests you “maintain an epistemological and psychic distance from any technology, so that it always appears somewhat strange, never inevitable, never natural” (185) In order for this  to become a reality, Postman wants an idea-centered and coherence-centered education to be in place. Although, I agree that much of technology has a  powerful effect on our live, I don't think that it goes hand-in hand at all with the deterioration of moral in American culture. If anything, today, we live in a country that is more tolerant, has a smaller gap between the rich and the  poor, lower crime rates in cities such as New York and Los Angeles, more than 50% of the population believes in a God, etc. His idea that Technology changes the practice of medicine by redefining what doctors are, redirecting where they focus their attention, and reconceptualizing how they view their patients and illness” (105) is simply ridiculous.
 Doctors always have and will always be Doctors. Their purpose has not  changed. They are there to help patients overcome their illnesses, and  we are on the cusp of a technological revolution in medicine that helps us target and cure diseases almost regularly. There  is nothing wrong with technology. Just like there is nothing wrong with the pen in Hitler's hand used to write Mein Kampf. Technology is all about how it is used, and the general direction we are headed in with technology is to better the man.