Wendel Berry's Standards For Technological Adoption

Wendel Berry at work... without a computer.

"The sustainable guys there talked about low-tech solutions. Sometimes you're looking back in time for solutions."

 

- Stephen Gist

In 1987 Wendel Berry explained that he did not wish to buy a computer with which to do his writing. 

He never did relent, preferring the low tech and less flashy pencil and paper combo.

His goal was always, "to make myself as plain as I can". 

Towards this goal he shared his standards for technological adoption.

They are as follows:

1. The new item should be cheaper than what it replaces.

2. It should be at least as small in scale.

3. It should do work that is clearly and demonstrably better than what it replaces.

4. It should use less energy than what it replaces.

5. If possible, it should use some form of renewable energy, such as solar or that produced by the body.

6. It should be repairable by a person of ordinary intelligence, provided that he or she has the necessary tools.

7. It should be purchasable and repairable as near to home as possible.

8. It should come from a small, privately owned shop or store that would take it back for maintenance and repair.

9. It should not replace or disrupt anything good that already exists, and this includes family and community relationships.

Using such standards would mean that much of the technology we use now would no longer be produced or consumed.

How much of modern technology advances the human condition, rather than advancing surveillance, control, and profit-making?

Maybe we need less technology, not more, or perhaps the answers we need can only be addressed by low tech rather than high.

But talk that way and most people will think you are insane. We have accepted high tech unconditionally as a good that always makes life better.

Berry says, 

"The Luddites asserted the precedence of community needs over technological innovation and monetary profit.

The victory of industrialism over Luddism was overwhelming and unconditional. It was undoubtedly the most complete, significant, and lasting victory of modern times.

To this day, if you say you would be willing to forbid, restrict, or reduce the use of technological devices in order to protect the community, or to protect the good health of nature on which the community depends, you will be called a Luddite, and it will not be a compliment.

Technological determinism has triumphed."

In an insane world, the sane will be seen as the ones who have lost their minds. 

Some would say that Wendel Berry was not thinking straight to consider that using a pencil for writing, and editing on paper with his wife, could not be improved upon by the purchase and use of a computer. 

And yet, he still resisted. 

"The individual", Friederich Nietzsche said, "has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe."

He thought that if you tried it, you would often be lonely, and sometimes frightened. 

But, he thought, "no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself". 

You could say that Berry was off his rocker for not being an enthusiastic cheerleader for high tech. But you couldn't say that he didn't own himself.

We would do well to consider his standards for technological adoption, and seriously question all new innovations before we choose to adopt them in our own lives.

Contrary to what the tribe believes, new technologies are not always improvements that benefit humanity.