Machine Thinking

“In 1828 … [t]he Faust legend obsessed artists and writers; in dozens of works they told the story of the modern predicament: in gaining the power of industry, the world was sacrificing its soul. It was not the new machines themselves they feared – there were not yet many – it was machine thinking.”
 – Jonathan Hale, The Old Way of Seeing
Through my projects and other media I will highlight here I hope to capture some of those moments where our thinking changed because what we have changed.  Or, like in the quote, our response to what we can imagine but it yet to come.
One lens to look at us through is that we are the sum of our tools.  Put a computer in your pocket, or have your power go out, and you’re a different person.
Those intersections and moments are what fascinate me – as do the machines themselves. I’m not a machinist or scholar so much of this is new to me, too, but I hope you’ll join with me on my journey.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *