sábado, 29 de outubro de 2016

Techno-optimism, techno-pessimism and after-postmodern times



     We can read at “The Economist” about optimism and pessimism surrounding the Technology of Information. The article cites more pessimists as Robert Gordon, for whom the strong industrial revolution was “the second”, with electricity, cars and planes, or Fredrick Erixon and Bjorn Weigel, authors of “The Inovation of Illusion”, that say about the capitalism growing old. All those arguments are reinforced by the weak productivity.
     The optimists say that the statistics are wrong and not getting the real numbers of internet business; they also say that the new revolution is just beginning.
     That controversy is another demonstration of the after-postmodern times: the pragmatism and certainty of post-modern era are not anymore present. New paradigms are coming, but we are not sure about what are them.
     Anyway, the cybernetic innovation brought a new level for democracy never seen before. We can see all around the world people of almost all economic condition getting information about anything.
   Maybe the new challenge is to end starvation together with giving information to everyone in the world.

domingo, 23 de outubro de 2016

Which globalization ? – part 2


     In the end of the 20th century most people were secure of a new order under the so called “globalization”. It was mainly an economic globalization, although others globalizations were on the way, as, for example, the internet, the media, etc.
     Now, that we are in after-postmodern times, maybe there are several “Brexits” coming to that cited order, not just for the E.U…
     But, probably, “new globalizations” are coming, but maybe with other names to characterize what kind of trade is going to be, including all the new connections among people and organizations.