Philosophies & Movements
Luddite
Today, a label for someone who resists new technology. Historically, the Luddites were English textile workers who smashed machinery in 1811–16 — not because they feared machines as such, but because factory owners used them to cut wages and replace skilled labor. The word is often used as an insult, and some AI critics now claim it with pride to argue that the question is who technology benefits, not whether it is new.
Origin
From “Ned Ludd,” a mythical apprentice the protesters named as their leader. The movement began in Nottinghamshire in 1811.