Harari's World History: Evolution toward Intelligence without Consciousness?
David E Nye
Technology and culture 2021 DOI: 10.1353/tech.2021.0160 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Harari's three books offer a deterministic, externalist account of technology that minimizes cultural difference and free will, and proposes that a more convincing popular overview could be constructed from contextual research on technology and culture that Harari disregards. |
Abstract
Yuval Noah Harari's three books, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, propose a sweeping world history that takes an externalist view of technology, minimizing the importance of cultural difference and individual free will. His deterministic narrative argues that a single world culture is emerging and that artificial intelligence inevitably will replace human consciousness. In this story, technology is increasingly powerful, while inventors, entrepreneurs, and consumers have little influence over events. A far more convincing popular overview based on a more contextual approach could be constructed based on research on technology and culture that Harari disregards.