Science, technology, and skepticism in the works of Kurt Vonnegut (part 4): Be more human

The Sirens of Titan and the final answer

The works of Kurt Vonnegut — comprised of 14 novels, more than 120 published short stories, and a few posthumous collections — are best known to his followers for their black humor and satirical critique of society. But beginning with the publication of his first novel, Player Piano (1952), Vonnegut consistently explored the thematic dehumanization of man and society wrought by technology, and to a lesser extent, the effect said dehumanization has on free will, presenting us with a terrifyingly recognizable truth concerning humanity’s growing dependence on technology.

Part 1: Man versus machine
Part 2: Armageddon
Part 3: Mas as a machine
Part 4: Be more human

“We live in a society exquisitely dependent on science and technology, in which hardly anyone knows anything about science and technology. The science of today is the technology of tomorrow. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.” —Carl Sagan

“Science never cheered up anyone. The truth about the human situation is just too awful.” —Kurt Vonnegut, Timequake