Science alone cannot do good
Marx’ technological determinism tells us that technology develops independently and influences human beings in a predicted way. However, it does not tell us whether technology’s influence would be positive or negative. As far as I am concerned, technology is a double-edged sword. Both positive and negative influences are possible outcome of technology advancement. Which effect is more dominant depends on who is using the technology.
Technology is a double-edged sword. It has brought huge benefits to human beings every time it goes through a great breakthrough. For example, right now we are all enjoying the fruits of modern technology and technology is also increasingly being used to help with humanitarian aid. These are the positive influence technology has on human beings. It is so obvious that I will not elaborate on this.
What is often neglected is the fact the technology could also do great harm to human beings. For example, the existing nuclear weapons could now destroy the earth more than once. It is a great threat to human beings. The clone technology could be used to produce massive merciless soldiers by one country to fight with other countries, which pose great threat to the peace of the whole world. Technology, created by human being, if used improperly, has the great potential to destroy human beings.
In which way technology would influence people’s lives would depend on who is using the technology. The world was lucky that the U.S invented nuclear weapons several months ahead of Nazi German. Otherwise we can hardly imagine how the world is like today. But we still have problem with the use of technology today. Like what the author has mentioned in her article, right now only the affluent are the biggest beneficent of technology. Right now, the government is still the dominant technology holder. Government decides how the technology would be used, who could benefit from the use of technology. But currently all over the world, most governments are not trustable agents. Government itself is a representative of those affluent, is a tool for some powerful people to realize their interests. In this situation, how can it come true that all human beings could enjoy the fruit of technology advancement?0 TrackBacks
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'Which effect is more dominant depends on who is using the technology.' -- what about context?