Following my previous post on putting the Aga Khan’s speech at Brown in a historical context, I want to spend some time on his discussion of technology and human interaction. Rather than speaking only to the Nizari Ismaili community, or to concerns that affect only Nizari Ismailis, he is addressing a larger human concern. If, as the Qur’an states, the Prophet Muhammad was sent as a mercy to all mankind, than it is only logical that his descendants and the inheritors of his spiritual authority should continue to speak and work for the betterment of humanity, not just the segment that agrees with them.
In his initial remarks, the Aga Khan is fairly light-hearted in his approach to participatory media. He says, “If you were a student at Brown 18 years ago, you would not have had any Facebook friends and you wouldn’t be following anyone on Twitter. And, even more sadly perhaps, no one would be following you!” Of course, the comment alludes to a deeper concern with social media, the social comparison effect may actually make us more unhappy when we use social media, especially if we are chasing follower counts and number of friends.
However, the Imam becomes more explicit about the dangers of information silos, where we have more information, but less knowledge.
Click here to read more Hussein Rashid: State of Formation – The Aga Khan and the Human Connection.
Earlier related: Understanding the Aga Khan’s Speech in History
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