Surrogate Goals

The term “surrogate goals” is often associated with the Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski, who used it in his manifesto titled “Industrial Society and Its Future” (also known as the Unabomber Manifesto). Kaczynski’s views on surrogate goals are part of his critique of industrial society and modern technological advancements.

In his manifesto, Kaczynski argued that modern industrial society had created a range of artificial or surrogate goals that replaced more authentic and fundamental human needs and values. He believed that the pursuit of these surrogate goals, such as material wealth, social status, and technological progress, had led to a sense of emptiness, dissatisfaction, and alienation among individuals.

Kaczynski’s main points about surrogate goals included:

• Alienation:

  He argued that the pursuit of surrogate goals, driven by the demands of industrial and technological society, disconnected individuals from their true human nature and fundamental needs. This disconnection led to feelings of alienation and unhappiness.

• Manipulation:

  Kaczynski suggested that institutions and technological advancements manipulated people into pursuing surrogate goals, often at the expense of their well-being and the environment.

• Loss of Autonomy:

  He believed that individuals became increasingly controlled by the systems of industrial society, which dictated what goals they should pursue, instead of allowing them to define their own authentic and meaningful objectives.

Kaczynski’s views on surrogate goals were part of his larger critique of modern industrial society, and he advocated for a return to a more primitive, pre-industrial way of life. While his critique of surrogate goals has been discussed and debated in the context of his manifesto, it is essential to remember that his extreme actions, including a nationwide bombing campaign that resulted in deaths and injuries, were widely condemned and illegal.

Kaczynski believed that the inability of individuals to experience what he referred to as the “power process” was a significant factor that led them to pursue surrogate goals. The concept of the “power process” is a central theme in his manifesto, “Industrial Society and Its Future.”

Kaczynski’s theory of the power process is based on the idea that humans have a fundamental need for autonomy and a sense of control over their own lives. He argued that the power process consists of three stages:

• Goal Setting:

  This stage involves setting meaningful and achievable goals. These goals should require effort and provide a sense of purpose.

• Effort and Attainment:

  In this stage, individuals make efforts to achieve their goals. The process of working toward a goal and eventually attaining it provides a sense of satisfaction, accomplishment, and power.

• Autonomy and Control:

  The final stage of the power process is the feeling of autonomy and control that comes with successfully achieving one’s goals. This stage is crucial for human well-being, as it fulfills the need for personal agency and self-determination.

Kaczynski contended that in modern industrial society, the power process was disrupted and distorted. He argued that people were no longer able to experience the true power process because they were subject to a system that dictated artificial and often meaningless surrogate goals. These surrogate goals, such as the pursuit of material wealth, social status, or consumerism, did not genuinely fulfill the power process. As a result, individuals felt alienated and unfulfilled.

Kaczynski believed that the frustration of the power process and the pursuit of surrogate goals led to a range of societal issues, including a sense of meaninglessness, dissatisfaction, and, in some cases, a desire for rebellion against the system.