This paper analyzes Neil Postman's framework from "Five Things We Need to Know about Technological Change," examining his argument that technology carries hidden costs, distributes benefits unequally, reshapes cultural worldviews, permeates every aspect of society, and is dangerously treated as sacred. The paper focuses especially on Postman's first two points: the Faustian bargain embedded in every technological advance, illustrated through automobiles, computers, and cell phones; and the unequal distribution of technological benefits across class lines. The analysis affirms Postman's core message that society must approach technological growth with critical intelligence rather than uncritical acceptance.
In his article "Five Things We Need to Know about Technological Change," Neil Postman warns against an uncritical, full-scale embrace of technology and technological advancement. While Postman acknowledges that new and emerging technologies do not necessarily pose entirely unique problems for society, he recognizes that technology plays an increasingly powerful role in the world, affecting all aspects of human existence — from politics to education to religion. His five points are intended to encourage a prudent and balanced perspective on technological growth.
The first of Postman's five adages outlines the disadvantages that each technology inevitably brings. For example, automobiles pollute the environment and television has dulled many minds. Postman asserts that the most powerful and influential technologies often bring the deepest dangers. The second point addresses the social injustices and inequalities that technology often generates within a culture. The rich and powerful are usually the greatest beneficiaries of technological advancements, according to the author.
Third, Postman states that technologies cause the formation of new prejudices and biases and can permanently alter a culture's worldview and ideology. Television and print media, for instance, promote certain — often unattainable — ideals of beauty. Fourth, Postman acknowledges that technology does not exist in a compartment or a vacuum; rather, it affects every aspect of society. As an analogy, he describes how a drop of red food coloring placed in a glass of water does not remain a discrete drop but instead turns the entire glass red. The fifth and final point concerns the dangerous tendency to regard technology as something sacred, mythical, and organic. According to Postman, this worldview threatens to leave technological advancement completely unchecked.
While Postman's five points may seem alarmist or technophobic, his underlying message is not to eliminate technological change altogether. Instead, he urges his readers to think more intelligently about the impact technology has on human consciousness and human society.
Postman's first point — that technological change is a "Faustian bargain" — is particularly evident with automobiles. Cars have completely changed the character of modern society and altered the way people view the world. However, they bring enormous trade-offs. In addition to the obvious environmental disadvantages caused by the internal combustion engine, cars also contribute to a lower quality of life in cities, foster unhealthy psychological attitudes, and encourage sedentary behavior. People who depend on cars to travel from point to point consequently get less exercise; many people choose to drive a few blocks rather than walk. A culture becoming dangerously overweight and physically unhealthy cannot afford to ignore this drawback.
Moreover, people who feel compelled to own a car may end up going into debt, when in many cases they could manage without one and enjoy greater financial freedom. Too many cars on the streets also produce highway congestion and traffic jams, which detract from a person's sense of overall well-being. Many people develop so-called "road rage" in response to driving-related frustrations. Long commutes to and from work consume leisure time that could otherwise be spent with family and loved ones.
Cars are not the only culprits when it comes to the negative consequences of technological advancement. Computers, televisions, and cell phones also carry significant drawbacks, despite their enormous benefits to society. Reliance on computers has led an entire generation to discount old-fashioned yet highly reliable forms of bookkeeping. Without hard copies of data, a person can lose their livelihood through a simple hard-drive crash. While the Y2K scare never materialized, the threat of losing important data on a large scale still looms. As power companies and other utilities become increasingly dependent on computers, the public remains relatively unprotected in the event of a computer-related disaster. The booming computer industry also creates other pressures, such as the financial burden placed on lower-income families to upgrade their equipment unnecessarily.
"Technology's benefits skewed toward the wealthy"
Although technology is still not completely egalitarian in this regard, the situation is at least improving with respect to access to the World Wide Web. Postman's framework ultimately calls not for a rejection of technology, but for a more thoughtful and critical engagement with it — one that acknowledges both its transformative benefits and its very real costs to human culture and society.
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