Notes from the Catacombs

Any intimations of authentic deprival are precious, because they are ways through which intimations of good … may appear to us. George Grant

An intimation is a subtle thing. It doesn’t blare or bang. Instead, it’s more like a secret, only it can be collectively shared. Maybe there are a number of intimations of deprival we collectively share already. We do intuit there is a problem with being forever plugged in; with our overuse of devices and the polarization created from social media, not to mention the lack of community cohesion we are experiencing. We are already asking ourselves what technology is doing to us, our families, our kids, and our society. These are questions that are becoming increasingly popular. But this is good, because it means that we might, might be at a place where we are ready for answers. After all, we have to recognize there is a problem before we start looking for solutions. So what are they?

In this Radix issue, we present you with some thoughtful people who think a lot about technology. From Felecia Wu Song and her book Restless Devices: Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age; to Chris Martin and his book, Terms of Service: The Real Cost of Social Media; to Fr. Christopher Seith and his recent Ph.D dissertation; to David Gill, who has taught and written about ethics and technology for more than forty years. Along with the interviews, we have some interesting articles. And while the central theme in this issue is to question the allure of technology, we are not suggesting people become Luddites; this isn’t helpful in the long term. What is needed is wisdom. Speaking of wisdom, as always, we have poems.

It is our hope that this Radix issue will elicit some thoughtful change. – Matthew