"Technorealism" (magazine article)

"Technorealism." The Nation 266.12 (6 April 1998): 20-21. Headed, "GET REAL! A MANIFESTO FROM A NEW GENERATION OF CULTURAL CRITICS."

Gives a manifesto called "Principles of Technorealism," briefly stating and arguing the assertions: "1. Technologies are not neutral." "2. The Internet is revolutionary but not utopian." "3. Government has an important role to play on the electronic frontier." "4. Information is not knowledge." "5. Wiring the schools will not save them." "6. Information wants to be protected." I.e., they argue against the slogan, "Information wants to be free," including free of charge to copyright holders. "7. The public owns the airwaves; the public should benefit from their use." "8. Understanding technology should be an essential component of global citizenship." The most important point may be that "In a world driven by the flow of information, the interfaces—and the underlying code—that make information visible are becoming enormously powerful social forces." Signed by a dozen cultural critics, with impressive credentials, and a website: www.technorealism.org. Copyright for the article held by David Shenk, Andrew L. Shapiro, and Steven Johnson.