Fixing the Earth: Whole-Systems Thinking in Silicon Valley’s Environmental Ideology
Author Information
Author(s): R. Riemens
Primary Institution: Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Hypothesis
How has whole-systems thinking influenced Silicon Valley's approach to environmental issues?
Conclusion
The study critiques the optimistic narrative of techno-fixes in addressing the climate crisis, revealing it as a misleading perspective.
Supporting Evidence
- Silicon Valley's environmental ideology is rooted in a belief that technology can decouple human progress from environmental decline.
- Whole-systems thinking emerged from the intersection of counterculture and technological innovation in the 1960s.
- The Limits to Growth report institutionalized the idea of managing the Earth as a system.
Takeaway
This study looks at how tech companies in Silicon Valley believe technology can solve climate problems, but it argues that this belief is overly simplistic and ignores real environmental issues.
Methodology
The study uses discourse analysis of primary sources and literature review to explore the evolution of whole-systems thinking in environmental discourse.
Potential Biases
The analysis may reflect a bias towards critiquing techno-optimism without fully exploring its potential benefits.
Limitations
The study may not cover all perspectives on the relationship between technology and environmentalism.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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