Nicholas Agar
Nicholas Agar is Reader in Philosophy at Victoria University in New Zealand, and the author of The Sceptical Optimist: Why Technology Isn't the Answer to Everything. He has spent much of his academic career writing about ethical and philosophical issues that arise in connection with new technologies.
The Problem with Techno-Optimism
Today there are high hopes for technological progress. Techno-optimists expect massive benefits for humankind from the invention of new technologies. Peter Diamandis is the founder of the X-prize foundation, whose purpose is to arrange competitions for breakthrough inventions. His aim is “a world of nine billion people with clean water, nutritious food, affordable housing, personalized…