The child thinks… he looks around the world…. He sees and tries to understand…. He wanders about it’s streets and lanes and he sees people and more people…. He tries to feel their life, to understand it…. the child observes and he learns…. For innocence of mind is his greatest weapon in understanding others…. For what they say is what is- that is his knowledge…. For complete cleanliness of his inner Self is the greatest language that bridges others’ hearts to his….
Thus spake this child
What is technology? People ask if it is a boon or bane. And I wonder; what is technology? Is the machines that we have all around us technology? Is it that things happen manifold faster than they used to not many years ago technology? If I should answer if it is a boon or bane, I must know what is technology.
The child wonders… the child thinks… the child finds an answer. And he spake thus:
Technology is no material object. Technology is a process of thought. It is a method of application. For knowledge is but beautiful vapour if not put to any use. Technology freezes that vapour and presents before you the elixir of the knowledge. There is nothing material about technology. It is a state of our minds, an application of what our mind knows into what we want. For knowing the plate is served is useless unless the hungry man eats from it. That is technology.
Then, pray, what could be the reason for asking me if it were a boon or bane? It is a state of your mind… and it is not something material. It is neither the want of blood nor the lust for life. It is neither greed nor generosity. It is neither disdain nor humility. It is not an object, but it is a way to reach one. I beseech you: why ask if it were a boon or bane?
The child ponders, he wonders again… he thinks. He searches for and finds an answer. And he says this:
It is not in the technology that lies the boon or bane, but it is in what you use it for. For having the sword in it’s scabbard is not sin; it is in beheading innocent men that the sin lies. Your question asks if man is using his technology well and not if technology is nice. You ask me to evaluate the actions of men in the past, present and the possible actions in the future. For solitude isn’t in itself dangerous; the danger lies when the wrong people reach there.
So let me answer your query now and let me speak what I have to say. For in the end it shall be you who has the say and the verdict shall be yours and only yours… aid you to reach it, shall I.
Applications of knowledge
That men made what men needed
Long, long ago the world was divided. Civilizations had grown isolated from each other in Asia and South America. In their growth they restricted their flourish with foolish ideas and put themselves in a circle of advance, their net movement being nowhere further. Those in Europe opened their minds and let themselves see the world as the world is and not they way the Church said it was. And they advanced into luxuries unknown to man yet.
The world was divided between rich and the poor, the ones who had and the ones who had not, the ones who knew and the ones who knew not. And this division, this cleavage in society was an open, bleeding wound that bled violence and hatred. There were revolutions, angry revolutions, that the rich share their cake with those who had never seen bread. And the rich did not like it.
It was here that some decided: let us make those things which we have and they have not, cheaper that we can sell cheaper and earn still the same. It was this decision that led to the magic called the Industrial Revolution.
That a lot many lost their jobs was the thing the Revolution could not predict, adding unnecessarily to the number of have-nots. Yet, the Revolution created larger numbers who had and therefore filled the gap slightly.
Technology played in the Revolution. What was known? It was known that burning coal and oil yields energy we can utilize. It was known that a lot of metals like iron could be shaped appropriately and huge contraptions be created that could use this energy for essential purposes. This knowledge was put to use. Technology was brought into the game. And we had machines that made more machines, that made clothes, that made ships, that made so many things.
The nascent use of technology was in trying to make what people needed. Technology was a boon then. And we gained from the boon. We made our lives simpler. We made our lives more mature. We made our lives more focused.
The subject of the focus changed. But it remained nevertheless.
That we gain more from others and they grow rich while we grow richer
As man shall always be, men were greedy at the time of the Revolution. They saw that machines could earn a lot of money. They saw that if lesser manual labour were needed and more machines be used, then more money is saved and less lost. This would make them richer. And those who lost their jobs poorer- that they did not bother.
So better, more mechanical machines were made that worked more on their own than by someone’s prod. And these machines replaced the men that worked at them. Production was now tamed by machines. While those lesser industries that still needed labour to control there machines made money, those needing no labour at all for their production made merry.
The society was divided again. There were the rich, the not-so-rich, the not-so-poor and the poor. From haves-and-haves-not, we had haves, haves-little, haves-lesser and haves-none. The cleavage was stronger.
Greed grew. And men lost their jobs. As men lost their jobs, anger grew. And with this anger grew violence. And those men who in their greed had given rise to this anger were now threatened. They were attacked and robbed. They needed protection. They needed to save from vandals what was theirs. They needed to fortify their hoard.
Thus the gun was made. And were made more powerful bombs. These bombs and guns were used whenever angry, hungry men attacked the rich ones to claim a share of their riches, small or otherwise. They were used to hurt and kill.
Yet a cleavage another.
That we hoard better what we have and the beggars not see, nor want, nor dare
This anger could no more be tamed by words and pleas. It required strength. And the one who has the greatest of it shall remain rich for a longer time. So more and more weapons were created. Better shooting guns. More fatal bullets. Fiery bombs. More traps were made that hungry fools may fall in them and never come back to ask again.
This anger did not remain between the rich and the poor alone. The rich men eyed the riches of the richer. They wanted what they had. And with their weapons attacked them. Countries waged war for money and riches. More weapons were made.
A large number of us began working at creating the most effective way of hurting and killing men. We deviced a number of guns and bombs that would help us rip through the heart of all those who come in our way to our greed. More men died. More lost their jobs. More lives devastated.
The child sees what technology did to our world… and now he answers the question thus:
Technology is neither boon nor bane, dear reader. For as I said it is but a means for reaching your destination. The good or bad lies in you and your thinking. It lies in how you think of the world. It lies in if you are selfish or not.
The boon is your thoughtfulness. The bane, your greed. You can choose what to make of technology. Whether heaven or hell.