Technological Realism

a brief attempt at a definition

I’ve used the term “technological realism” a few times without defining it.

It’s been my sense we need a way of thinking about technology that doesn’t turn a blind eye to its dangers or is goofily utopian.

It’s been an intuitive thing, but it deserves elaboration, so here goes.

1. New technology can take on a life of its own. When that happens you simply must adapt to it if you don’t want to join the Amish.

2. Technologies can mitigate the Curse, but not abrogate it. There are always trade offs. The Kingdom of Heaven isn’t an engineering challenge.

3. Purity isn’t possible. Moral ambiguity remains. While some injustices can and should be corrected, others are too costly to correct, or simply remain unseen. We need a theology that helps us live with impurity.