The author, John Marek, is a writer and CEO of the Anson Economic Development Partnership.
Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, died last week in federal prison in Butner, N.C. He was 81. Kaczynski’s story haunts the collective memory of a nation. Responsible for a series of mail bombings spanning nearly two decades, Kaczynski’s actions caused immense harm and struck fear into the hearts of many. However, beneath his horrific deeds lies a disturbing truth: Some of the ideas expressed in his notorious manifesto, “Industrial Society and Its Future,” have proven to be eerily prophetic. While it is essential to condemn his violent methods, it is worth examining how elements of Kaczynski’s ideas resonate in today’s increasingly complex and disconnected world.
In his manifesto, written from a remote cabin near Lincoln, Mont., Kaczynski vehemently criticized the unchecked advancement of technology and its impact on human freedom and dignity. While his methods of protest were undeniably abhorrent, the core argument he presented about the loss of individual autonomy in the face of an ever-expanding technological society is worth considering. As we navigate a world where surveillance, data breaches and algorithms govern our lives, it is evident that Kaczynski’s warnings were not entirely unfounded. The erosion of privacy and the increasing dependence on technology raises valid concerns about the extent to which forces beyond our control shape our lives.
Kaczynski believed that individuals should be able to opt out of technology if they so desired, but speculated that the relentless advancement of technology and its integration into every aspect of our lives left individuals with limited choice and agency and would one day lead to a society in which it was impossible to live without technology and its controls.
His view of technology as a force that erodes personal freedom and autonomy and makes people increasingly dependent on complex systems they have little control over is shared by many people today. Kaczynski advocated for the recognition of the inherent dangers and risks associated with technological progress and called for individuals to have the right to live in a simpler, more self-reliant manner, free from the influence of an all-encompassing technological society. While his extreme actions and violent methods overshadowed his philosophical arguments, Kaczynski’s thoughts on the ability to opt out of technology underscored his concern for preserving individual agency in the face of an ever-advancing industrial society.
It is important to remember that Kaczynski came to these conclusions before the widespread use of the internet, social media and smartphones. The technology of his day was the fax machine, the car phone and the unnetworked desktop computer. Yet, Kaczynski recognized the corrosive effects of modern technology on interpersonal relationships. He argued that technological advancements would lead to a breakdown in meaningful human connections as individuals became isolated and detached from their communities. With the rise of social media and the proliferation of online interactions, we see his concerns manifesting in the form of an “illusion of connection.” Many people today struggle to foster deep and genuine relationships, finding solace in superficial online connections that fail to provide the nourishment of genuine human interaction. The loneliness epidemic, extreme political division and erosion of social cohesion highlight the uncomfortable truth that Kaczynski’s words were not entirely devoid of insight.
Kaczynski was a terrorist and a murderer, and his actions can never be condoned. However, it is worth acknowledging that within the depths of his psychopathic rage, there were moments of unsettling truth. Aspects of Kaczynski’s manifesto have proven to be extraordinarily prescient, serving as a reminder of the complexities and vulnerabilities of our modern world. By examining the uneasy intersections between his ideas and our present reality, we can gain insights that may help guide us toward a more conscious and compassionate relationship with technology, community and the environment.