Question

Briefly discuss and evaluate Williams' claim that "history and nature are weakening as well-defined external frameworks that give meaning to human life".

Answer 1

What Williams is discussing in her book 'Retooling: A historian confronts technological change', is that in our modern age, especially the age in past 2-3 decades when Information Technology has taken over, the markers of change for humans are no longer in history or nature, but rather in technological change. Our history is now limiting itself to only the history of technological change. There can be many types of changes, most of which have been very important throughout human history. such as political, geographical, intellectual, cultural, social and of course, technological. Out of these, in our age, technological change has become the most important to us. This is how most of us now measure change. Indeed, many will say the biggest changes that occurred in our lifetimes were internet, smart phones etc.

I agree to the idea to a great extent, but wont go so far as to claim that it is the only change that matters to all. Human beings are multi-dimensional and can be aware of all types of changes at a single time. Sure technological changes do take up a lot of our interest and discussion space, but one only needs to see a newspaper or elections to see what dominates most people's lives. People are most concerned about immigration, automation, employment, terrorism, social changes etc. This shows that while technological change is important, people are aware of other issues too. As a counterpoint to the point in first paragraph, maybe a lot of people would say the election of Donald Trump heralded one of the biggest changes in recent history, be it positive or negative.