Fukiyama says that “human nature shapes and constraints the possible kinds of political regimes.”

He then worries that technology may alter human nature with unknown consequences on political regimes.  While I agree that our nature as humans is being altered and even transformed by new technologies, but truly our nature has always been intertwined with technology, whether this take the form of diet or of medicine.

I appreciate the MOOC instructors’ caution about sliding into technological determinism.  It happens all the time!   Far more ominous are the realities of new technologies being used to foster the commodification of education and devaluing of educators, as described by David Noble.  Without saying that the technology or capitalism inevitably cause this to happen, we witness the continual pressures and incentives to run education like an industry.