First published 2024
Technology has replaced religion as the dominant force shaping modern life and community. Greg Epstein, who serves as humanist chaplain at Harvard and MIT, examines what it means to think critically about this new form of worship. He advocates for tech agnosticism rather than uncritical acceptance of innovation. Epstein refuses to suggest a return to some imagined pre-digital era. Instead, he insists we maintain independent judgment about technology until it proves worthy of our trust. He poses vital questions that put human welfare at the center of technological development. Who benefits when we accept technology without question? How can we fix its problems while keeping its advantages? Epstein draws lessons from history's doubters, rebels, and truth-tellers who challenged prevailing orthodoxies. He shows how skepticism has always served humanity well. The book calls for collective action to ensure technology serves our pursuit of meaningful lives rather than the reverse.
Genres: computers, non-fiction, technology, 21st-century, artificial-intelligence, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: critical-thinking
Setting: Harvard, MIT
Period: Modern
368 pages · Hardcover · The MIT Press