Technological Revelations: The Evolution of Technology with a Case Study of Space Technologies

This interdisciplinary synthesis applies complex evolutionary systems perspectives to analyse technological trajectories and critical realist framework for conceptualising normative appropriation of technologies. Following questions are addressed: 1) What factors contribute to the evolution of technologies? 2) As a case study, what are the current trajectories of space technologies? 3) What are the possible strategies and adaptations for sustainable and emancipatory technologies? 4) As an example, what would be the satisficing trajectories of space technologies? Evolutionary, complex systematic, historical, and philosophical perspectives beget a deeper understanding of how modern technologies have been reduced to the GDP growth machines by multiple short-term attractors. The remarkable effectiveness of the modern scientific methods combined with industrial capitalist hegemonies lead us to declare an era of ‘Anthropocene’ and we have become techno-reductionists: anthropic means to technological ends, playing out a soft version of the instrumental convergence (‘paper clip maximiser AI apocalypse’). I focus on the recent phenomenon of privatization and commercialization of the outer space domain as an instance and extension of this trajectory.
The evolutionary niche of homo sapiens is identified as: (A) co-evolution of physical technologies and culture (social technologies); (B) extensive flexibility in response to novelty (cultural paradigm shifts). Anthropic niche (A) is being usurped by techno-reductionism and a perpetual growth paradigm at the expense of the collective commons. Case study of space technologies elaborates this hypothesis and identifies ‘Space-induced Temporal Disorientation’ (STD) syndrome among entrepreneurs professing to ensure human survival. Sociocultural evolution and institutional frameworks are lagging behind non-linear technological change in the multiple domains. This necessitates a cultural paradigm shift in our social operating systems (anthropic niche B) as a primary response. This shift would be augmented by the mindset of ‘Techno realism’: I.) internalization of systemic complexity science perspectives marked by epistemic humility in our scientific methods and technological designs II.) appropriation of value-laden techno-structures to promote: co-operation over competition; exploration over exploitation; qualitative entrepreneurial development over quantitative capitalist growth. Humans need to harness ‘better angels of our nature’ from the evolutionary toolbox that is extraordinarily extensive and flexible. Space technologies in addition to their enabling functions (including limited internet connectivity via shared infrastructure) can be useful to foster ‘overview effect’: the big picture perspectives and paradigm shifts needed for regenerative futures.