The Illusion of Technique

With plenty of time, we ought to read this book. Otherwise, move on. Barrett introduces existentialism ideas mixed with his own interpretations and explorations. At times, the book has very good writings among the very slow one that drove me to despair.

Barrett presents the West as swimming in the shallow pond of consumerism created by worshiping at the knees of Technology. I think that the problem is much deeper than that. Two facts come to mind. First, sport events today have substituted attending to Sunday school; and the impact of globalization have destroyed most Western local communities.

What I learned? I came to the conclusion that Heidegger and the Existentialism do not have much to offer about living a moral life. Heidegger suggestion of nature as a refuge is not enough; it looks more like an escape than liberation. Sartre’s Absolute freedom -understood as our ability to say 'No' and not to commit ourselves- does not feel sufficient either. My intuition tells that I should look someplace else as guidance for a moral life.

I believe that we lost God as our psychological support. A return to mysticism might bring back that support. And that is a very unlikely event.