Agreeing Machines Vs Thinking Machines
Are we all becoming agreeing machines instead of thinking machines?
The late, great Kurt Vonnegut Jr once wrote:
"She was stupid on purpose, which was the case with most women. The women all had big minds because they were big animals, but they did not use them for this reason: unusual ideas could make enemies, and the women, if they were going to achieve any sort of comfort and safety, needed all the friends they could get.
So, in the interests of survival, they trained themselves to be agreeing machines instead of thinking machines. All their minds had to do was discover what other people were thinking and then they thought that, too."
Whilst Vonnegut was referring to women in his fictional city this can be seen as a commentary on todays western society.
I can't deny that despite trying to think for myself I spend a lot of my time as an Agreeing Machine. Reading this reminds to spend more time thinking.