solutionism

The chapter 'Chasm' from James Bridle's 'New Dark Age' explores the complex relationship between technology and human understanding, emphasizing that technological advancement has not translated into deeper comprehension of societal and systemic issues. Bridle argues for a systemic literacy that goes beyond functional knowledge or coding skills, critiquing computational thinking and solutionism as insufficient frameworks for grappling with the intertwined challenges of politics, climate, and inequality. The chapter calls for new metaphors and a critical approach to technology that acknowledges the networked nature of human and nonhuman agency, advocating for survival and solidarity even amid incomplete understanding.

The introduction chapter of Eli Pariser's "To Save Everything, Click Here" critiques Silicon Valley's ambitious drive to solve global problems through technology, emphasizing a shift from mere innovation to a focus on amelioration and efficiency. It envisions a near-future where self-tracking devices, algorithmic governance, and gamification reshape human behavior, politics, culture, and crime prevention, highlighting both the utopian aspirations and the potential dystopian consequences of such a frictionless, data-driven society. Pariser expresses skepticism not about the feasibility of these technological futures but about their desirability and the implications of entrusting human complexity to algorithmic control.