The negative impacts of technological progress on humanity: existential anxiety in Kurt Vonnegut’s Galapagos
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In Kurt Vonnegut’s novel Galapagos (1985), he explores how technological development profoundly impacts human society, leading to struggles and psychological turmoil. The book delves into the complex relationship between technological progress and its effects on the human psyche. This study examines Vonnegut’s perspective on the negative impacts of technology through humanistic existentialist psychology. It argues that while technology brings benefits and convenience, it also erodes emotional well-being and sense of self. By analyzing Galapagos and other works, this research aims to deepen understanding of Vonnegut’s concerns about the trajectory of technology and its implications for human existence. It highlights the need to balance technological innovation with ethical considerations to preserve human dignity and purpose.
Author: Yao-qin Zhang
Institution: Anhui University of Science and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4408408341