‘We are losing touch with our spiritual roots.’ Photo: Detail of book cover of The Struggle for a Human Future: 5G, augmented reality and the internet of things, by Jeremy Naydler
The Struggle for a Human Future: 5G, augmented reality and the internet of things, by Jeremy Naydler
Author: Jeremy Naydler. Review by Jenny Dines
One of the many consequences of the pandemic has been that we have become increasingly dependent on technology to connect with one another. I have found my smartphone and Zoom essential. But I have also been aware that this increasing interaction with technology may also impact on our lives in ways that may not be so beneficial. This aspect of change is explored in this book.
In a collection of five essays, Jeremy Naydler considers some of the hidden forces that underpin the digital revolution, and identifies some of the costs of the technology on our inner lives, and for our environment.
Naydler is a philosopher and cultural historian, with expertise in ancient religion. This breadth of understanding helps readers see the long perspective.
Naydler is not against technology. He can see that it brings many benefits, but he says that we should be more aware of its shadow. He notes that we have an increasing dependency on digital technologies as they become more powerful and more portable. We find them ever more integral to our way of life, augmenting our reality and distracting us from the world around us. As a result, we are losing touch with our spiritual roots. The natural world is also vulnerable to technology and the massive increase in electromagnetism as a result of the internet might be damaging the environment in ways that are not immediately apparent. Naydler is concerned that we seem to be embracing these new technologies with enthusiasm, without considering the problems that they generate.
The author is keen that we should engage with research on the impact of the digital network. He also suggests that we apply political pressure to counteract the strong voices that support the rollout of new technology. He makes another plea that we become more aware that the technology is drawing us away from our interconnectedness with the natural world, and from our sense of the mystery of life. We can become more aware by reflection and contemplation. In particular, we can rebuild our relationship with the light, noticing how it illumines the world in a constant act of selfless giving. In this way, we can appreciate its benign presence both in our inner lives and in the world. By employing these spiritual practices, we can counterbalance the impact of the negative forces that are the shadow side of the digital world. We can also nourish our souls and strengthen our awareness of the divine reality in which we are immersed.
This book provides a broad approach to the impact of digital technology. It recognises the challenges that we face in our struggle for a human future, and helps navigate those challenges by suggesting spiritual practices that intensify our participation in the natural world and encourage us to reconnect with our spiritual roots.
