While discussing The Question Concerning Technology in class over the past week, we brought up some rather interesting topics that I could not help but ponder on. The idea that technology is defined as having ends to its means and the idea that technology is positive, negative or neutral. While thinks about these to turns, I did not have to think very long to see the relationship between them. When a technology is created, it has some purpose to fulfill, in essence having an end to its mean. While the maker of this technology is creating this technology, he/she has the intent of good or evil which is molded into the technology he/she is creating. For example, when Nobel created dynamite, he had good intent, in which he wanted the technology to be used to help simplify mining operations.
Although a technology can itself have a tendency to be deemed good, bad or neutral, the user determines the final emotion toward the technology. Using the dynamite example, the creator made this technology with positive intent. Later, when others found its power out, used it in a destructive manner; to kill and destroy humanity. While the creator made it for good, it can still be used for evil. Any technology created can, in essence, be boiled down to either being positive, negative or neutral based on the final outcome of the usage. It is because of this that people have selected biases for technology. Even though the means to the ends can be deemed one emotion by the creator, the user can bestow another emotion upon the technology.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It is definitely true that what one person utilizes for good, another may do the opposite. I think though that when considering whether to introduce a new technology, one should consider what the majority of people will use it for. We will never be able to entirely control the minority that uses a technology for negative reasons. I also don't think that it is cause to not introduce the technology. As long as speculation indicates that use will be productive and good overall, the creator should continue with their production.
ReplyDeleteI think you definitely raise an interesting point which definitely has its relevance in today’s world. When one creates any piece of technology it is difficult to completely control how others use it. When Nobel created dynamite he wanted people to use it for mining yes but he could not have been too surprised when certain people started using it for destruction and violence. It is a problem that humanity will face throughout time, although emotion is put into an invention the intended use will change once it is released for public use.
ReplyDelete