Free yourself from oppression by technology - opinion - 27 December 2009 - New Scientist
The idea of progress: Onwards and upwards | The Economist
I these articles touch on many common tropes in discussions on happiness today.
The Economist article is bigger picture about humanity and progress, but I think the frustrations people have today with feeling fulfilled are a lot to do with both how we choose to use the technology that we develop, and a distraction from the longer view of the moral and loving purpose. The New Scientist article discusses this at the much more micro level of our individual struggles to feel fulfilled with the materialistic world around us. I think our increasingly innovative and fast changing world makes it easier to distract ourselves from ever asking ourselves whether we are happy and fulfilled until it is too late.
It is also good to have some reference to actual studies (such the reference to an actual study to show that people who place a high value on material goals are unhappier than those who are less materialistic).
I am not sure that a lack of a clear separation between work and home significantly damages our relationships per se. In fact I think it better if our work and home life are well aligned so we are the same person. I also think that technology today can allow us to take advantage of working from home and taking time off work. But the challenge today is knowing when to turn off certain streams to focus with single minded attention to make genuine progress on the things that matter most to us.
I do like the articulation of the solution to the pressure, a self-determination theory
Autonomy - the feeling that our activities are self-chosen and self-endorsed. When we feel in control, we are able to organise our priorities and place effective boundaries around them. We need to use our technological tools to help us, not be managed by them
Sense of competence - a belief that our actions are effective. In this respect our relationship with technology is complex, because many of us feel competent when we deal with an email, when we have the newest BlackBerry, or because 50 people enjoyed the holiday snaps we posted on Facebook. But being truly competent must be a continuation of our autonomy: knowing which activities are important to us and carrying them out in the most effectual way possible, making use of technology where applicable.
Relatedness: our need to feel close to other people. Again though technology can help us here, as long as we are not using it alone. It needs to help build on the meaningful time with friends and family.
He adds a fourth factor, critical thinking, as a type of filter to the 24/7 world around us. For me, that is the longer view.
The economist article would add a 5th - moral sensibility. The first three help us be fulfilled and effective, but do not guide us to do that for the right v wrong reasons
The idea of progress: Onwards and upwards | The Economist
I these articles touch on many common tropes in discussions on happiness today.
The Economist article is bigger picture about humanity and progress, but I think the frustrations people have today with feeling fulfilled are a lot to do with both how we choose to use the technology that we develop, and a distraction from the longer view of the moral and loving purpose. The New Scientist article discusses this at the much more micro level of our individual struggles to feel fulfilled with the materialistic world around us. I think our increasingly innovative and fast changing world makes it easier to distract ourselves from ever asking ourselves whether we are happy and fulfilled until it is too late.
It is also good to have some reference to actual studies (such the reference to an actual study to show that people who place a high value on material goals are unhappier than those who are less materialistic).
I am not sure that a lack of a clear separation between work and home significantly damages our relationships per se. In fact I think it better if our work and home life are well aligned so we are the same person. I also think that technology today can allow us to take advantage of working from home and taking time off work. But the challenge today is knowing when to turn off certain streams to focus with single minded attention to make genuine progress on the things that matter most to us.
I do like the articulation of the solution to the pressure, a self-determination theory
Autonomy - the feeling that our activities are self-chosen and self-endorsed. When we feel in control, we are able to organise our priorities and place effective boundaries around them. We need to use our technological tools to help us, not be managed by them
Sense of competence - a belief that our actions are effective. In this respect our relationship with technology is complex, because many of us feel competent when we deal with an email, when we have the newest BlackBerry, or because 50 people enjoyed the holiday snaps we posted on Facebook. But being truly competent must be a continuation of our autonomy: knowing which activities are important to us and carrying them out in the most effectual way possible, making use of technology where applicable.
Relatedness: our need to feel close to other people. Again though technology can help us here, as long as we are not using it alone. It needs to help build on the meaningful time with friends and family.
He adds a fourth factor, critical thinking, as a type of filter to the 24/7 world around us. For me, that is the longer view.
The economist article would add a 5th - moral sensibility. The first three help us be fulfilled and effective, but do not guide us to do that for the right v wrong reasons
Comments