New Dark Age by James Bridle is an unsettling exploration into how the rapid advancements in technology have paradoxically plunged humanity into an era of increased obscurity and confusion. This book, a revised and fully updated edition, delves into the inherent complexities and the opaque nature of our modern digital age.
Bridle, acclaimed for his previous work Ways of Being, presents a compelling narrative that challenges the dominant belief that quantitative data and computational models can wholly represent and manage the complexities of our world. Instead, he argues that the overwhelming volume of information and the inscrutability of algorithm-driven systems lead us further into a ‘new dark age’ marked by uncertainty and a diminished capacity for understanding.
In New Dark Age, Bridle masterfully intertwines the history of art, technology, and information systems to reveal the dark undercurrents of our digital era. He examines how the proliferation of unverified, automatically generated information fragments our perception of reality, creating a fertile ground for speculation and misinformation. Bridle’s critique extends to the pervasive influence of predictive algorithms and surveillance technologies, which not only threaten personal privacy but also undermine social cohesion and empathy.
The book is both a warning and a call to action, urging readers to develop a systemic literacy that transcends mere functional understanding of technology. Bridle emphasizes the importance of critically engaging with the technological systems that shape our lives, advocating for a deeper awareness of their historical, social, and ethical dimensions.
Critics have praised New Dark Age for its perceptive analysis of the ways information technology has obscured power dynamics and diminished our capacity for meaningful change.
Bridle’s work is not merely an exploration of technological impacts but a broader philosophical inquiry into knowledge, comprehension, and human agency in the face of overwhelming complexity. It is a clarion call for a new kind of literacy that is essential for navigating and understanding the entwined human-technological landscape of our contemporary world.
In this book, Bridle doesn’t just critique; he provides a framework for thinking critically about technology, urging us to move beyond simplistic understandings and to embrace a more nuanced, interconnected perspective. New Dark Age is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the profound challenges and implications of living in an era where technology’s promise of enlightenment may, in fact, be leading us into greater darkness.
Simon Gros 
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