Summary Of Bill Joy's Concern For The Future Of Technology

It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity”, these are the quotes of the famous German physicist Albert Einstein in relation to how the world has become overly reliant on technology. As a result, we have taken nature for granted while also ignoring the adverse effects of technology. The making of steam engine, the usage of fossil fuel and the creation of chlorofluorocarbon are all technologies which has benefited us greatly and are continuing to do so, but like everything on this earth there are always negatives to counter the positives This is the balance that we must find between nature and humans.

To conclude, the choices that humans make with technology affect this Earth. It could either be a negative outcome like destruction or it could be positive and be a spark of a new hope. As this society continues with these old ways which have already exceeded our humanity, they are just creating more destruction. If humankind can change these ways, there could be hope for a fresh start, and a new beginning. All in all, let’s stop this technology from exceeding humanity and begin

Joy proposes the idea of relinquishment as a solution to all of the projected perils new technology will present to the world. The idea of relinquishment is to abandon the use or research of certain technologies because their inherent danger is far too great to justify their place in society. Joy backs up this idea with the pessimistic views shown in the previous paragraph. This idea would not be very feasible in today’s world, however. Technology is not being created or improved for evil purposes, so people will justify continued use by citing the benefits of each technology as evidence for ongoing use. Joy’s article misses this point though, because of the one sided nature of his article. The counterpoint to this position is presented by Kurzweil as the law of accelerated returns, and he uses it to justify his optimistic position. Kurzweil formulated the law of accelerated returns after in depth modeling of the history of technological advancements. Through his research, Kurzweil has come to conclude that technological progress is made at an exponential rate, and that this progress is being made to help humanity and try and improve the standard of living. Backed by his research and foresight, Kurzweil anticipates the advancements of GNR will greatly benefit our world, as described in the preceding paragraph. Both Joy and Kurzweil come to valid conclusions based on the logic is

Clive Thompson’s “Smarter Than You Think” reflects upon the idea that technology is her to help us more than we think, rather than the popular belief that technology is ruining the way we think. Thompson believes that the pair between human and technology is making us smarter. Along with that, our minds are slowly adapting to the use of technology, advancing our thinking. Lastly, the relationship between technology and human, has brought humanity closer than ever with the ability to communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time. Clive Thomason believes the stronger the bond between humans and technology, the smarter we can become; I also alongside with Thompson believe this is true, and if so us as humans need to embrace the use of

As we already learned, the use of technology can cause great tragedy, but it can also create an abundance of joy.

In his article, “What are People For”, Wendell Berry muses that technological progress serves no purpose in the grand scheme of things, cynically notes that the “higher aims of ‘technological progress’ are money and ease”. By condoning this materialistic outlook of life that afflicts society with a “cultish faith in the future”, Berry urges his audience to consider taking part in a community that appreciates life in the present. Berry heralds truth in his argument that technological advancement, even ones made with good intentions, inevitably contaminates society because it enables twisted misuse of power and serves to strain human relationships.

He references the story of the Oji-Cree people, nomads who relied very little on technology. It was not until the nineteen-sixties, when technology, such as engines and electricity, was introduced to them. After this advancement, the threat of dying in the winter due to starvation was eliminated; however, obesity and diabetes emerged throughout the population. This raises the question of whether the technology caused more harm than good. He presents this story to model how our society is not much different, “When it comes to technologies, we mainly want to make things easy. Not to be bored. Oh, and maybe to look a bit younger” (Wu 4). Technology, while intended to help us, allows us to be lazy as a society, which introduces a whole new set of problems. He furthers his point by saying that we are “comfort-seeking missiles” (Wu 4). This theory causes the reader to reflect on themselves to notice if they have fallen victim to the misuse of technology. By inserting this study into his article Wu is able to persuade the reader to agree with

At what point will society place a dependence upon technological advancements rather than the curiosity and interactions of mankind? With the constant acceleration of improvements within technology and any piece of information readily available many authors, artists, and individuals question the natural world as each generation more elaborately explores the innovative approaches towards science and technology. E.M. Forster’s short story, “The Machine Stops,” is based upon a fear of the technological revolution, and it introduces the audience to a utopian society facing multiple forms of isolation as a result of his society reaching complete dependence upon the technology of the Machine. The society’s reliance upon the Machine creates a divide between those who display an adoration and worship towards the Machine versus citizens who prevail and fight for their individual freedom. E.M. Forster illustrates the role he foresees technology to play in the end of human civilization through an exaggerated vision of the effects that technology leaves on our lives, which helps the audience to better understand our present day society properly.

There is no question that science and technology is as essential to functioning in an advanced society as soil is essential for a flower. In numerous communities, technology is so often an asset to be yearned for. We want to have the best smartphone, the best internet, the smartest home possible. Every piece of mainstream technology strives to make life easier, and yet it appears to be quite the contrary. Since the 1900s, we have gained dishwashers and automatic floor sweepers. Yet a question remains: have we truly become happier? As the prevalence of technology is on the rise in our own time, survey after survey, research after research shows that we are actually more unhappy with our lives. Suicide rates have skyrocketed ( Tavernise)

Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master. This quote by Christian Lous Lange, summarizes the story of the veldt, its morals, and most importantly, society’s views on technology itself. The line where this blurs is one we fear, and usually do not recognize at first. Whether you agree with this quote or not, it is a disturbing perspective on the advance of knowledge. Imagining a world where technology engulfs the mind of the children, poisons them with thoughts of rage and revenge is a world where the next generation is corrupt. When an innocent pure mind becomes so damaged to where a child wishes their caregivers dead, that is the death of an empathetic, working, society.

Mr. Kelly argues that, technologies new and old have helped humans throughout history. The use of technology has formed us and has become an extension of who we are as humans. I have to agree with his arguments. Technology provides opportunities, sometimes for a price, but we are always willing to pay it because we are naturally drawn to progression. Technology has helped humans evolve from small populations with high mortality rates to prosperous, growing overpopulated lands. Our optimistic views of the future and witnessed benefits from the use of technology, has left us with an addiction we willingly life with. Mr. Kelly said, “[Technology] is the most powerful force that has been unleashed on this planet, and in such a degree that I think that it 's become our -- who we are.”(Kelly)

Albert Einstein sums up what the technology we have created for ourselves has done to us in a single quote. “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity” (Einstein). This one sentence holds many meanings. It means that technology has exceeded what is possible of the human race, that technology has affected us in a way that makes us less human, and that technology has allowed us to reach beyond barriers like language, distance, time, and space.

Andy Clark, in Natural-Born Cyborgs, offers an extended argument that technology’s impact on and intertwining with ordinary biological human life is not to be feared, either psychologically or morally. Clark offers several key concepts towards his line of reasoning. Clark argues that a human being thinks and reasons based on the biological brain and body dynamically linked with the culture and technological tools transparently accessible to the human. This form of thinking and reasoning develops new "thinking systems" that which over time become second nature thoughts and reasons and are the basis of even newer "thinking systems." It is a repetitive cycle that continues forever being built upon previous systems.

The short story “Marionettes, Inc.” shows how technology is a great tool and a privilege to have. It was used to help Braling deal with a situation that he didn’t want to deal with. Braling was “married to a women who overdoes it,” she wanted to be all over him all of the time and it kept getting worse. It’s unfortunate for Braling because he married his wife for the wrong reasons. When Braling married his wife he was only thinking about his business, his mother and father. When you marry someone for the wrong reason there are consequences that you have to deal with and the consequence are not good and it’s not something that you expect to happen.

Can you imagine a machine so big it dwarfs entire planets? Can you imagine a machine with a single goal, a single purpose? Can you see it, hovering in space, blotting out the stars, so big it bends thought? Can you imagine a machine so complex that no human has ever even tried to understand it, and yet the machine exists because humans built it in the first place?