The Debate is irrelevant. Yes, you heard me. This entire noise of whether “technology is a boon or bane” is irrelevant.
My understanding is: If you have it, use it. That’s how nature works.
Human beings have been embedded with the very best product of evolution – the “developed brain”. We have it. So we shall use it (read: harness Technology).
Now…in our species…we refer to the developed brain and its covering supporting mass (highly adapted to Earth’s terrestrial environment) – as the Homo sapiens i.e. a Human Being.
The question now changes dramatically:
Ask yourself not whether technology is a boon or bane. But ask yourself whether Homo sapiens is matured enough in developing sustainable healthy relationships among each other to make positive use of Technology.
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Yeah…I can already feel a majority of ya readers moving to the next review ;)
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Ok…for one’s who may need a quick relief and asking the question – “What the hell are you getting at??” – well…here it is: Technology *methinks* is a very powerful enabler and how we use this tool makes it relevant to ask whether it turns out to be a boon or a bane.
Even more relevant question is: Whether Technology is a boon or bane for Homo sapiens?
Yes, I understand. You may ask – “Who do you think we were talking about till now? Monkeys???”
Well…no. We were talking about Homo sapiens – the supposedly “most superior creatures on Earth and the self-proclaimed most superior ones *yet* in entire universe”
That’s how (sadly) naïve we really are.
Technology is not a patented right of the Homo sapiens. Any superior alien beings might as well be using it right now somewhere on a distant planet or spaceship in the Universe. Who Knows? But…I always tend to keep my options open.
But the difference really is: How mature the species of life is - To handle this powerful tool responsibly?
Given Human Beings: Without a doubt, we’re quite disorganized in this area. With very little control – the human experiments with Science (& the resulting product called *Technology*) can go disastrously wrong. Take Chernobyl or any potential future DNA manipulation disaster waiting to occur.
Take a Gun as a metaphor for Technology. Would you give it to an immature hot-blooded bloke or a mature cool-headed dude for care taking? Well…in metaphorical sense…*methinks* human beings are like the immature hot-blooded guys. Intelligent, yet not mature enough to handle this very intelligence! But then, if we cannot handle our own gray matter responsibly, can we really call ourselves intelligent???
And I also believe that somewhere out there – there may be the mature cool-headed ones using this tool much more carefully and responsibly. To the best potential they can.
This *methinks* occurs mainly due to two reasons:
1) They have a mature and sustainable society structure among them – preventing any sort of rebellion – thus preventing intra-species killing – like it happens among our species. Even if there is a rebellion, they may have proper means of harmonizing the structure again.
2) Their level of cognition, conceptualization, memory, etc. – basically – all levels of thought process are highly matured compared to our species.
Interestingly, the 1st point is a direct consequence of the 2nd point.
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Ok…back to the central question then.
Do we need Technology? - Yes, we need this powerful enabler.
Are we going to use it? - Oh yes, we’re.
Responsibly? - Hmmm…the signs are not looking too good for this generation of Homo Sapiens!
Why do we use it? - Yes, it’s a means to improve our lifestyles - to go ahead with more explorations, inventions and leave the *boring stuff* to machines (robotic & other automated semi-intelligent systems) we create.
Exploration and curiosity of human nature mixed with Technology is a powerful blend.
And yes – it’s also used as a means to dominate and control.
Unfortunately the latter part is the main reason of our investments in technology today than anything else.
Get this:
1) We’re not ready to spend even 10 billion dollars on AIDS, but we can spend 1 trn $ on armaments (annually).
2) We’re not ready to spend a few billion dollars to clear toxic wastes that slowly depreciate the human health, but we’re ready to spend much much more in building more toxic manufacturing units around the world to feed the alarmingly expanding consumerist population.
No…America… *my dear fellows* is not to be blamed. America is simply a group of human beings that has managed a better set of living procedures that enables it to dominate. Each nation is nothing – but a group of human beings. The set procedures of living are really what make the difference between weak and strong nations. And yes, factors such as religious beliefs, demographics, history, etc. all matter in the scheme of things.
Here’s my take on Nation Dominance: A country with democratic and scientific dominance is the one that will rule (by proxy) the entire world. Any of the above two factors missing will not do. This is why Technology is so really important today (sadly).
Anyways, it’s this very naïve nature (of using Technology increasingly for dominance) that frustrates many others and myself. One wonders, whether our brains are really developed enough – as we claim it to be.
Isn’t this then a fantastic anomaly that the very consequence of evolution – the “developed brain” – can lead to question the very existence of this GOD given process? :)
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CONCLUSIONS
So, again – let me state very clearly – “the very question of TECHNOLOGY is a boon or bane is irrelevant.” It’s how we use it that really what this debate should be all about.
So ask yourself – If Human Society is in itself a boon or bane to the Earth’s web of life?
I guarantee you one thing – whatever your answer is, the same goes for the question for Technology.
It’s the *context of usage* - my love – that really what *meaning* is all about :)
Cheers!