Culture and Technology: Diametrically Opposed or Mutually Beneficial?

What effect does technology have on culture? Does the slow march of technological progress harm cultural achievement, or does it in fact facilitate the advance of culture? What implications does AI have for the future of art, film, and music?

Join the Syracuse Philosophy Meetup for a fun and engaging discussion of these topics and much more! No prior philosophical experience is necessary and we welcome people of all age, backgrounds, and opinions. Our meetings are informal, friendly, and fun! So come, grab a coffee, and get ready to think!

Here are some more ideas I thought of to contemplate before you come:

• What is culture? What is technology?
• How has art been affected by technology?
• Some of the most important aspects of culture depend on technology: Literature needed paper and book-making technology, photography and film need cameras, and video games require digital devices.
• Consider other aspects of culture, like etiquette, gift-giving, or celebration of holidays, all of which have been around for thousands of years. How has technology influenced them?
• Does culture affect technology?
• Is AI (large-language models, machine learning, etc.) just another piece of technology, or is it something qualitatively unique that cannot be simply compared to telephones and airplanes?
• How do you feel about artists using AI in their work? Would you read a book or watch a film created entirely by AI?