The Hubris of Techno-Scientists, or the Modern Titan Myth

Western civilization has long celebrated temperance, humility, and moderation of desires as cardinal virtues, directly inherited from ancient Greek thought.

Acceptance of Human Limits at the Heart of Ancient Wisdom

Plato, in The Republic, placed temperance (sophrosyne) among the three cardinal virtues along with courage and justice. For the philosopher, temperance consisted of "being master of oneself" and "commanding one's pleasures and desires." Similarly, Aristotle considered moderation (métriotès) an essential virtue, emphasizing that excess was the enemy of happiness and individual fulfillment.

This ancient wisdom was based on the conviction that man could only achieve fullness and happiness by knowing how to contain himself, by accepting the inherent limits of his condition. As the poet Pindar wrote, "Do not seek, my soul, to live the life of the immortals; you must remain within the bounds assigned to you." Far from seeing these limits as a hindrance, the Greeks saw them as a guarantee of balance and harmony, akin to their conception of the cosmos, and a sine qua non condition for a good life.

However, it is clear that this worldview has been profoundly shaken by the rise of modern techno-scientific civilization. Where the Greeks saw moderation as a cardinal virtue, contemporary societies seem to celebrate excess in all its forms.

Transhumanism: An Excessive Will to Power

Transhumanism, an ideological movement advocating the enhancement of the human species through technology, perfectly illustrates this break with Greek values. The aspiration to transcend biological limits, to conquer disease and death, and even to merge man and machine, reflects a will to power reminiscent of the excessive ambition of tragic heroes in Greek literature. Rather than seeking to know and fulfill oneself within the limits of the human condition, many techno-enthusiastic thinkers and entrepreneurs aspire to transcend our nature, constantly pushing the boundaries of the possible. This quest for technological immortality, far from guaranteeing happiness, could lead to a form of dehumanization, sacrificing the acceptance of human condition, fragility, and finitude for a utopian, potentially dystopian project.

The Ideology of Infinite Growth

The ideology of infinite growth, a pillar of modern capitalism, directly opposes ancient wisdom. The relentless pursuit of profit, intensive exploitation of natural resources (extractive capitalism), and the race for technological innovation without regard for long-term consequences paint an apocalyptic picture reminiscent of Greek myths of excess and hubris. The figure of the Titan, who defied the gods and ultimately caused his downfall, serves as a powerful metaphor for the overwhelming ambition of our era. The pharaonic accumulation of wealth, concentrated in the hands of an increasingly restricted elite, exacerbates inequalities and creates an abyssal gap between the haves and the have-nots, undermining the very foundations of social cohesion. As Aristotle already emphasized, "wealth is not the good we seek, for it is only a means to something else." It is clear that this warning from the Stagirite has not been heeded by our contemporaries.

The Chasm Between Greek Moderation and Contemporary Excess

The capture of political, media, and cultural power by a techno-scientific oligarchy exacerbates the problem. The growing influence of tech giants on political decisions, the manipulation of information via social networks, and the concentration of power in the hands of a few key players pose a threat to democracy and individual freedom. This concentration of power is reminiscent of the authoritarian regimes of Antiquity, where the figure of the tyrant dominated without sharing. The control of information, widespread surveillance, and manipulation of public opinion, far from being new phenomena, take on unprecedented proportions today thanks to technological advances.

Similarly, the media and cultural sphere seems increasingly dominated by a logic of escalation and immediacy, to the detriment of true humanistic values. Rather than cultivating reflection, perspective, and humility in the face of the complexity of the world, many media and cultural institutions seem trapped in a frantic race for audience and notoriety. Information often boils down to a continuous flow of dopamine, while culture is reduced to ephemeral entertainment.

Our Challenge: Combining Progress and Humility

Ultimately, one cannot help but be struck by the yawning gap between the spirit of moderation that permeated Greek thought and the excesses that characterize many aspects of our contemporary society. Where the Ancients saw moderation as the essential path to individual and civic fulfillment, our techno-scientific societies seem to yield to the temptation of excess in all its forms - excess of wealth, power, and sensations.

Of course, one could argue that this dynamic is the result of undeniable progress, particularly in scientific and technical fields. But shouldn't we, like our distant Greek ancestors, question the purpose of these advances and their compatibility with a truly humanistic conception of existence? Shouldn't we, rather than intoxicate ourselves with a vertigo of power, reconnect with the wisdom of moderation that was the strength of ancient Greece?

For this is indeed the challenge that faces us, heirs of Ancient Greece: to know how to combine technological progress with a worldview rooted in humility, temperance, and respect for limits. Only under this condition can we hope to restore harmony between the individual and the city, between man and nature.

Temperance can guide how we interact with emerging technologies. Instead of seeking to surpass human nature, a tempered approach would encourage the development of innovations that respect biological and ethical limits. The ethical approach in artificial intelligence, for example, could benefit from this value, prioritizing safety and human well-being over blind acceleration of technology.

In a polarized world, humility appears as a necessity to restore dialogue. Recognizing the diversity of opinions and experiences present in our societies is a crucial step towards peaceful coexistence. This requires openness to criticism and vulnerability regarding one's own beliefs.

As for the moderation of desires, it could inspire a new economic model, based on sustainability and the satisfaction of real needs rather than an incessant pursuit of profits. The concept of happy sobriety, recently popularized by contemporary thinkers, can embody this vision of a world where we learn to live with less, while enriching ourselves with meaningful experiences.

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References

Plato, "The Republic", "Dialogues"

Aristotle, "Nicomachean Ethics"

Pindar, "Odes"

Pierre Rabhi, "Towards Happy Sobriety"

Alain Deneault, "Mediocracy"