This episode covers Chpt 2 of the book Appropriate Technology Manifesto. Author, John Trimble, presents historical materialism (HM) as the application of dialectical materialism to society, production and reproduction, i.e., HM offers a materialist theory to examine the socio-economic impact of technology. According to John, those in charge of production guide technology development to maintain and enhance their control over resources. That is, the dominance of the conquest mentality and the capitalist class continues to shape technology policy. By extension, the workers are weakened and continue to be exploited. In all this, the biggest challenge is to overcome the dominance of conquest mentality, so that technology development causes further inequalities and destruction of life and the planet. So, John offers suggestions on how dialectics between forces of production can improve relations of production and empower people through appropriate technology.

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