Throwaway Culture/ Technocratic paradigm

 The “Throwaway Culture”

The concept of the "throwaway culture” has been thrown around more frequently, but it is also a practical consequence of the technocratic paradigm. The concept of the “throwaway culture” is when either people or things are no longer useful, they are discarded. This is where the modern-day economic systems are the most challenged by the environmental position of Laudato si’. In their work, Holden and Mansfield highlight how the church must confront climate change because the poor are the first to suffer the consequences of environmental degradation caused by the wealthy.

The technocratic paradigm often suggests that technology, in itself, will eventually solve some of the world’s greatest problems, such as poverty and pollution. However, Francis argues that if a person's underlying heart does not change, this is only a “false promise” with no real benefits. Integral ecology requires an “ecological conversion,” a kind of shift we refer to as “the good life.” This shift moves us away from a “quantity of goods” model we are currently in to a “quality of life” model that prioritizes a sense of community and the preservation of the common good.

Some questions after my research on the throwaway culture was, how are we able as humans to practically prioritize community over quantity when we live in a society that measures our value by what we own?

I had to continue to look into the throwaway culture. I wanted to look at my throwaway habits throughout the week. I did so, I found it really easy to recycle a plastic bottle but I found it that it's harder to challenge the mindset that tells me that I need the newest version of something. taking into consideration an iPhone as individuals living in this society it seems that we need to have the newest phone to be considered popular, especially among the younger generations. However, I want to begin focusing on the quality of life in my interactions, rather than getting on my phone for a quick TikTok session. To me, it's a small, mighty way to begin rejecting the technocratic push for efficiency, and to begin embracing the slower and more sacrament pace of the real community that is around me.



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