From the quantification of human beings to technological dystopia: a contemporary reflection

Abstract

The text examines the modern tendency to reduce human experience to metrics and quantifiable data, an idea anticipated in The Little Prince and critically developed in The Tyranny of Metrics. It incorporates Marshall McLuhan’s perspective, emphasizing the role of media in shaping social reality, and connects it to the rise of Big Data as an extension of this quantifying logic. From a philosophical standpoint, Heidegger warns that technology can turn human beings into mere resources. These concerns are reflected in dystopian works such as Fahrenheit 451 and The Terminator, which depict scenarios of technological control and domination. Overall, the text argues that while technology brings benefits, it is essential to critically reflect on its use to avoid losing fundamental aspects of human life.