Thread by @PnictogenHorses

the last twenty or thirty years have seen a remarkable intellectual phenomenon: #computer technicians, people whose sole area of expertise is computer #programming and #software engineering and other related disciplines, have come to be regarded as "Renaissance Men".

(1/x)

the "#STEM Lord" is an artifact of this phenomenon. while "STEM" is supposed to comprise mathematics and engineering and mathematics, the typical "STEM Lord" is not well-versed in any of these things—the typical "STEM Lord" is in #computers. they are a *technician*.

(2/x)

that is to say, #computer professionals are people with *limited* educations, who are devoted solely to mastering the intricacies of a certain sort of machinery, namely the modern computer.

men like @fchollet, @JeffDean, @antoniogm, and @ID_AA_Carmack typify the class.

(3/x)

it's dangerous (and offensive) for persons like @fchollet or @ID_AA_Carmack to regard themselves as knowledgeable scientists or engineers, because the #computing domain is almost wholly artificial and arbitrary. computer simulation is not required to line up with reality.

(4/x)

#programmers have appropriated the terminology of #science in order to make their jobs seem more rigorous and empirical than it really is. they speak of "in silico" experimentation—i.e. mere simulation that never needs to be tested in physical reality. it's publishable!

(5/x)

#capitalism likes cheap "content" quickly churned out, so computerized "experimentation" has become a fruitful avenue for generating dubious papers of "#scientificresearch" that consist only of #computer simulation. the "#STEM Lords" don't appreciate the difference.

(6/x)

meanwhile the promises made by these superficial men—and it is *almost completely* men, in the #STEM Lord / #computing professional classes—have inflated to gigantic proportions. men like @fchollet promise the world, and gullible #investors and #entrepreneurs eat it up.

(7/x)

#capitalism does not encourage or value #science in general. the decision-makers of capitalism—the titans of #business and #finance and #management, the avaricious persons devoted to making easy money in #investment and #entrepreneurship—are not well-educated.

(8/x)

#success in #business is *hindered* by intellectual understanding, for people with genuine knowledge of the sciences or the liberal arts aren't easily wowed by inflated promises. the glittering futures promised by @elonmusk or @fchollet make sense only to shallow persons.

(9/x)

the less you know, the shinier the promises seem.

in any case, #business skills are largely *impulsive* skills; all the business and #finance propaganda emphasizes making decisions without thought, with your "gut". the greatest business virtues are *emotional* virtues.

(10/x)

and, of course, #business success depends *far more* upon social status and privilege than it does on merit. #capitalism rewards nepotism and social snobbery; even having an unusually forcible name, like "King" or "Stone", can be of immense value in chasing #success.

(11/x)

therefore, everyone in corporate leadership and #management—all the managers and executives whose lives are dedicated mostly to chasing money and status—are bound to be people who can't tell when boffins like @elonmusk or @fchollet or @pmarca are making dodgy promises.

(12/x)

and no promise made by the #computer professional has been dodgier or shakier than the promise of #AI and of the "artificial general intelligence" (#AGI): the machine that promises to be *good at everything*, like @fchollet thinks he's good at everything, when he's not.

(13/x)

one can psychologically "project" onto machines, as well as other human beings.

the mere fact that our #technology industry has degenerated to such an appalling state is a monumental failure of Western civilization. our public intellectuals have all failed us.

(14/x)

#journalism has failed us. #education has failed us. Western #science has failed us.

#Christianity has failed us—for the wild promises about #AI and #AGI, the wild promises of @JeffDean and @fchollet, are ultimately #Christian in origin.

does that sound ridiculous?

(15/x)

you shouldn't laugh.

for #Christianity gave us the dubious notion of *omnipotence*: _omnipotence_ is just what #AGI is promising #capitalism and humanity.

@JeffDean, @sama, &c. might say they don't believe in God, but they do...and they decided to *build Him*.

~Mona Drafter

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