Afreen Chowdhury

World Views (seminar)

Stéphane Beaudoin
January 30th, 2017
Word Count: 208
Paragraph #1, p. 1-32

Technological mastery and Human devaluation in “Player Piano”

In "Player Piano," Vonnegut profoundly addresses worries about how technology affects

people. He paints a picture of a world where machines overshadow individuals, causing

concerns about the diminishing value of people's unique skills. One quote highlighting this is, "

The basic parts of the automatic controls, too, and the electric eyes and other elements that did

and did better what human senses had once done for industry" (Vonnegut 12). Here, Vonnegut

points out how automation diminishes the worth of human skills, making everyone seem the

same. The emphasis on efficiency and automation, raises questions about the fundamental

importance of human capabilities in a society obsessed with technology. In a technology-driven

society, the focus shifts from recognizing and appreciating the unique contributions of

individuals to a more utilitarian perspective. The fear is that this emphasis on efficiency may

lead to a homogenized workforce, where individuals are seen as interchangeable components

rather than unique contributors. This quote underscores Vonnegut's concern about the potential

homogenization of the workforce and the impact on individual worth and the erosion of human

agency in a world dominated by machines.