Scholars debate why the West stopped believing in gradual technological progress
random_walker · x · 2026-08-19
Princeton professor Arvind Narayanan argues that stacking 10-20 advances like self-driving and medical breakthroughs would make life unrecognizably different within decades—consistent with centuries of gradual progress. The real issue, he says, is that normal, incremental technological progress has gone out of fashion in the West and no longer constitutes a positive vision.
Economist account @Afinetheorem agrees, framing it as a cultural battle: whether economic growth and prosperity is even a goal, with many in the West (incorrectly) seeing everything as redistribution and relative power, tech included—calling for teaching progress and optimism.
Related event: Scholars Argue Incremental Technological Progress Is Undervalued(2 posts)→
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