America Beyond 2001 | Technology Can Be Damaging

Most students of European history dismiss the Luddites of 19th century England as “reckless machine-smashers” and “vandals” worthy of mention only for their daring tactics. Probing beyond this interpretation, though, we find a complex, thoughtful, and little-understood social movement whose roots lay in a clash between two worldviews.

The worldview that 19th century Luddites challenged was that of laissez-faire capitalism with its increasing amalgamation of power, resources, and wealth, rationalized by its emphasis on “progress.”

The worldview they...

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