By Theodore Kaczynski (a.k.a. The Unabomber)
Overview
Technological Slavery is a collection of writings by Theodore Kaczynski, primarily consisting of his infamous 1995 Unabomber Manifesto (Industrial Society and Its Future), along with additional essays expanding on his philosophy of anti-industrialism, technological critique, and the dangers of modern civilization. Kaczynski, a former mathematics professor turned radical anti-technology activist, argues that technological progress inevitably leads to the erosion of human freedom, the destruction of nature, and the rise of oppressive systems of control.
The book serves as a warning against the unchecked growth of technology and advocates for the collapse of industrial society to restore human autonomy. While controversial, his writings have influenced various discussions on the dangers of technological dependence, transhumanism, surveillance, and societal control.
Key Themes & Arguments
The Incompatibility of Freedom and Technological Progress
- Kaczynski asserts that as technology advances, human freedom declines.
- Modern technological systems require centralized control to function efficiently, leading to the loss of individual autonomy.
- The more advanced a society becomes, the more regulations, surveillance, and social conditioning are necessary to maintain order.
- Freedom, in his view, means self-sufficiency and the ability to control one’s own environment—something he believes industrial society has robbed from humanity.
“In the modern world, people’s lives are controlled by large organizations that make decisions for them.”
The “Power Process” and Human Psychological Suffering
- Kaczynski introduces the concept of the Power Process—the innate human need to engage in meaningful goal-directed activity.
- Modern technology disrupts this process by making survival too easy and dependent on large systems, leaving people psychologically unfulfilled.
- Instead of struggling to meet basic survival needs, people are given artificial goals such as careers, entertainment, consumerism, and activism, which do not provide true satisfaction.
- This psychological frustration manifests as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and irrational ideological extremism.
“People are forced into roles dictated by technological and economic systems, leaving them psychologically weakened.”
Industrial Society and Its Destruction of Nature
- Industrial society relies on the exploitation of natural resources and is fundamentally unsustainable.
- The destruction of the environment is not accidental but inherent to technological progress.
- Even supposed “green technology” and “sustainable development” do not address the core problem—which is the technological system itself.
“You can’t have industrial society without environmental destruction. It’s built into the system.”
The Threat of Artificial Intelligence & Totalitarianism
- Kaczynski predicted that future technologies such as AI, automation, and biotechnology would increase government and corporate control over people’s lives.
- As artificial intelligence advances, the gap between human control and machine control will widen, leading to a technocratic dictatorship.
- Society is on a path toward total surveillance, loss of privacy, and the elimination of dissent in favor of technological efficiency.
“Once a technology is introduced, it cannot be uninvented. Society becomes locked into technological dependence.”
The Futility of Reform: Why Technology Cannot Be Controlled
- Kaczynski argues that reforming the system is impossible because technology follows its own autonomous trajectory.
- Even well-meaning efforts to regulate technology or make it more ethical will fail, as competitive pressures will always push societies to adopt the most advanced technologies.
- Governments and corporations will continue prioritizing technological advancement over human well-being, regardless of public resistance.
“We can’t control technology; technology controls us.”
Kaczynski’s Solution: The Collapse of Industrial Society
Kaczynski argues that the only way to restore human freedom is through the collapse of the industrial-technological system.
- He rejects political reform as a solution, believing that all modern political movements (liberal, conservative, socialist, environmentalist) ultimately support the technological system.
- The only way forward is to resist technology itself, disrupt its spread, and allow civilization to collapse back to a simpler, pre-industrial state.
- This would return humans to small-scale, self-sufficient communities, where they could regain control over their own lives.
“The industrial system will not reform itself. It must be destroyed.”
Relevance Today: Kaczynski’s Predictions Come True?
Despite the extremity of his views, some of Kaczynski’s warnings have become more relevant in the modern world:
- Mass Surveillance & Technological Control – Governments and corporations use AI, data tracking, and digital monitoring to control human behavior.
- Psychological Crisis in Modern Society – Depression, anxiety, and dissatisfaction are more widespread than ever, despite economic and technological progress.
- Environmental Devastation – Climate change, resource depletion, and pollution continue despite efforts to develop “sustainable” technology.
- Transhumanism & AI Takeover – The rise of artificial intelligence, automation, and genetic modification pushes humanity toward a post-human future.
“Modern technology is the greatest threat to human freedom. The only way to stop it is to let civilization destroy itself.”
Final Thoughts: A Controversial but Important Work
- While Kaczynski’s methods (bombings, violence) were condemnable, his philosophical critiques of technology and its effects on freedom remain thought-provoking.
- His ideas challenge mainstream beliefs about progress, questioning whether technological advancement is truly beneficial to humanity.
- Technological Slavery serves as a warning about the dangers of unchecked technological growth, totalitarianism, and the erosion of human autonomy.
“Technology will lead to either totalitarian control or societal collapse. Either way, freedom as we know it will not survive.”
