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re:publica 18 - Alle Sessions Podcast
The Political Tragedy of Data-Driven-Determinism

The Political Tragedy of Data-Driven-Determinism

re:publica 18 - Alle Sessions vor 8 Jahren

Polls and predictions could not foresee the wide appeal of voting for Brexit, for Trump, against the predictions, against the future that was set in the numbers. As worrisome as these phenomenons may be, we can see some hope in this turn against data-driv

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Mushon Zer-Aviv The Oracle of Delphi predicted that King Laius’ son
would murder his father and marry his mother. In the Greek tragedy,
as much as both King Laius and his son Oedipus tried to fight
the prophecy, to avoid their fate, there was no escape from this
tragic future. The Oracles of London predicted that Brits will come
to their senses and vote against Brexit. And the Oracles of New
York and Washington predicted that Americans will vote for Hillary
Clinton ("because it is her turn") rather than go for a man with no
political experience, and no personal integrity. And yet,
tragically maybe, the political dramas we've recently witnessed
have not panned out exactly like a Greek tragedy. But is this wide
public decent against things as they are so uncalled for? Are these
protest votes against the political status quo and the predictable
future really a tragedy? Of course, one can rightfully claim that
voting for unknown futures is irresponsible and even childish. But
if the alternative is this patronizing political determinism,
deprived of any real possibility for change, should we really be
surprised? Today we are surrounded by Oracles, mainly algorithmic
ones, predicting and dictating our every move, crippling our
political imagination. In that framework, what are the prospects
for autonomy, creativity and leadership? Can we maintain this
political freedom and still addressing the prophecies we cannot run
away from? Most prominently climate change. How can we learn from
art, poetry, science fiction? What is our role in this play? And
does it really have to be so tragic?