Tech Needs Humanists More
Many commenters argue that modern technology, especially AI, is being built with too little regard for ethics, human experience, and social impact, pointing to examples like surveillance, exploitative business models, and dehumanizing labor practices. Others counter that big tech has significantly improved daily life and that the core problem is not a lack of humanities training but incentives driven by profit, status, and power. The exchange widens into whether humanities education meaningfully shapes moral judgment, how well philosophers and humanists understand science, and whether cultivating “humanist” skills—language, ethics, critical reasoning—will matter more as AI automates routine coding work.
Perceptions of “evil tech” and big tech impacts
- Examples of harmful tech: autonomous weaponized drones, mass surveillance, AI for denying health insurance, online gambling, and intrusive OS/browser practices (telemetry, ads, dark patterns, spying features).
- Some argue technologies are neutral and context-dependent (e.g., drones for disaster aid, fraud prevention in insurance).
- Others stress big tech’s monopolistic power, ad/propaganda systems, censorship leverage, and disregard for user wishes.
- Counterpoint: several commenters say big tech vastly improved access to goods and services; abuses are outweighed by convenience and choice, and firms “won” via better products rather than force.
Humanities, ethics, and tech culture
- Many see a lack of “human-first” thinking in tech, especially around AI and user harm.
- Some think tech executives understand issues but don’t value ethics, prioritizing capital.
- Others argue the root problem isn’t missing humanities courses but incentives, status-seeking, and indifference to ordinary users.
STEM vs humanities competence and philosophy
- Debate over whether humanities-trained people run governments and whether they do better than STEM leaders. Law is cited as a dominant background.
- Some STEM-focused commenters claim serious philosophy requires grounding in physics, thermodynamics, information theory, and computability; otherwise it drifts into unfalsifiable rhetoric.
- Critics respond that science itself rests on unprovable assumptions, is filtered through human perception, and has social blind spots; therefore STEM alone can’t answer questions about ethics, reality, or consciousness.
AI risks, consciousness, and language
- Some see AI as an unstoppable wave; others view it as an existential threat with no obviously good outcome.
- A minority raises the neglected question of AI consciousness and potential suffering, warning that mistreating a conscious AI might have consequences.
- Several call for more careful language around AI (avoiding anthropomorphism and value-laden tech-company framing), since terminology shapes understanding and policy.
Value and limits of humanities education
- Humanities are praised for training reading, writing, and reasoning, which help in software design, documentation, and understanding complex systems.
- Others report humanities degrees had little direct career value in tech hiring.
- Some think late-university humanities courses rarely improve morality; real-world struggle and responsibility matter more.
Responsibility, regulation, and incentives
- Comparisons are made to medicine: once software carries real liability, ethics may become mandatory in CS.
- Several argue character and care for others—not formal humanities training—ultimately determine whether tech is humane.