Comments on: 21st Century Tech Governance? What would Ned Ludd do? http://2020science.org/2009/12/18/thomas/ Providing a clear perspective on developing science and technology responsibly Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:00:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew Maynard http://2020science.org/2009/12/18/thomas/#comment-41249 Andrew Maynard Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:42:37 +0000 http://2020science.org/?p=2514#comment-41249 Very interesting question Ruth - thanks. Will have to seek out a Shaker expert for a follow-on guest blog. Very interesting question Ruth – thanks. Will have to seek out a Shaker expert for a follow-on guest blog.

]]> By: Ruth Seeley http://2020science.org/2009/12/18/thomas/#comment-41246 Ruth Seeley Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:58:23 +0000 http://2020science.org/?p=2514#comment-41246 The Luddites were a fascinating movement, no doubt about it. In my lifetime I have seen the 'small is beautiful'/'bigger is better' war waged several times already and have concluded it's a cyclical argument (the cycle lasting about 7 years - look at government centralization/regionalization as well as businesses). I'd love to know what the Shaker position on the Luddites was. The Shakers invented both the washing machine, a device for making apple sauce, and a mass-production method for their labour-saving chairs because they believed simultaneously in fine craftsmanship as a way of praising (G)god but didn't believe life should be brutally hard. They do say the ability to hold two opposing thoughts simultaneously is a sign of intelligence..... The Luddites were a fascinating movement, no doubt about it. In my lifetime I have seen the ‘small is beautiful’/'bigger is better’ war waged several times already and have concluded it’s a cyclical argument (the cycle lasting about 7 years – look at government centralization/regionalization as well as businesses).

I’d love to know what the Shaker position on the Luddites was. The Shakers invented both the washing machine, a device for making apple sauce, and a mass-production method for their labour-saving chairs because they believed simultaneously in fine craftsmanship as a way of praising (G)god but didn’t believe life should be brutally hard. They do say the ability to hold two opposing thoughts simultaneously is a sign of intelligence…..

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