Resource efficiency is the wrong metric. We should use nature as the measure, using nature's wisdom as a template for our economic systems.
Douglas TompkinsRead
If you just hold your cell phone for 30 seconds and think backwards through its production, you have the entire techno-industrial culture wrapped up there. You can't have that device without everything that goes with it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the complex cultural and industrial processes behind everyday technology.
Douglas Tompkins highlights the vast interconnectedness of technology and culture by suggesting that a simple act of holding a cell phone prompts reflection on the multitude of processes, resources, and societal impacts involved in its production. It serves as a reminder that our modern conveniences come with a significant history and a network of cultural implications that shape our lives.
Themes
TechnologyCultureProductionCell PhoneSociety
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the impact of smartphones on modern society.
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