In beginning to read the article for today's class, Question Concerning Technology, I immediately started thinking of all the ways in which technology has become as much of a hindrance to our way of life as it is infinitely beneficial.
I agree with the idea that technology is the destiny of man. We are intelligent, inquisitive beings for a reason. We will continue to experiment and invent and observe new things forever; it seems to be a natural experience for humans to want and need innovation. When we say that we are the ones "mastering" technology, however, I think we lose sight of just how powerful the technology we built has become.
As stated in the article, our mastery over technology becomes more urgent with every problem that allows it to slip out of our control. I don't mean that I believe enframing is true, that people are only "stockpile for technology's use", but it's impossible to say that we have complete control in the consequences wrought by technological invention. Global warming, which I personally believe is a huge problem caused fully by humans, is a good example of this. People may think they control everything, and yet technology has gotten out of hand, contributing to pollution, greenhouse gases, melting of arctic caps, and the slow destruction of our planet. To infer that technology is "neutral" is completely wrong. Rather, we have evaded and put up with the problems brought on by not having complete understanding of our technology, that now it's too much to handle. Have we let technology grow too self-efficient? Could this mean that problems such as global warming will continue indefinitely because we can't control it?
I'm certainly not anti-technology. I benefit and am a "slave" to everyday technology as anyone else, but I think we need to take a step back and realize that we're losing nature, the base of our existence, through technology, something we created. I don't think we need to 'lose' any technological advances, but we need to start advancing in a way that is controllable, that everyone is aware of and understands, and that is completely beneficial to the world around us, instead of in spite of it.
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It is very interesting how obsessed we have become with technology. As we evolve and time passes it's expected that technology will change too. Since we live in a society where we are well aware of the toll that previous advances have had on our well being and the world, we now are responsible for seeing that new advances in technology are as environmentally friendly as possible. Our obsession with technology should not interfere with our need to ensure that this planet is taken care of for generations to come. The earth is not just our home, but it is the home of every organic and non-organic organism within it. We need to take care of it for all of our sake.
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