http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U
Video from a movement led by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod called "Shift Happens". The fact in the video are meant to raise awareness and provoke change. The video mentions trends in technology effect school and work.
ROUGH DRAFT OF PAPER ONE
With time there is a progression. Looking back at history until the present age, it is almost unanimous that the biggest indicator of progression that people notice is the technological advancements of the world. Technology seems to be the greatest factor of human advancement in the most recent centuries. A debate that initiates with the topic of technology is whether or not it is inevitable. This argument of technological determinism is worldwide and is disputed amongst the most knowledgeable of people in the technological field. This topic of debates dates back to a couple of centuries ago as proven by the early poems of philosopher and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.
In Emerson’s personal ode written to a good friend of his, William H. Channing in 1846, he writes two verses discussing the idea of technological determinism. In this two verse excerpt from his ode, Emerson blatantly mentions the functionality of technology several times. His first line starts off: “’Tis the day of the chattel”. What he most likely means by this is that it was becoming the era of increasing technology. Throughout these two verses, he seems to mention technology through the word “things”. This can be seen in lines 3 and 4 when he says: “Things are in the saddle,/ And ride mankind. Here you can see that the words things and technology are basically synonymous. He is saying that technology is in the driver’s seat and is starting to control or “ride” mankind. This can be seen as a deterministic statement. He continues in his second verse and goes on to say that there are two separate laws of the land: “Law for man, and law for thing”. He compares these two as if they are both equal forces. He also says that “its runs wild”. This is basically saying that man can’t control technology and technology will overpower and control man as explained by the last line: “And doth the man unking.”
Emerson’s verses strongly defend his belief of determinism of technology, but on the other hand, David E. Nye’s essay “Does Technology Control Us?” has a lot to say about Emerson’s stand on the topic. Nye, in his essay, uses several historical examples to show times in history when new technology was rejected due to cultural beliefs. He builds the argument and conjures evidence stating that cultural traditions shape progression and not technology. One of his main examples of a civilization rejecting the newest form of technology is the example of the gun and the Japanese samurai class. The gun became the top and most advanced weapon of choice around the world. But based on cultural opinion, it was looked down upon in disgrace in Japan. The samurai class preferred the sword so the gun was banned from Japan for an extensive period of time. This was a time when technology was not in the saddle as Emerson said and the Japanese took control based on their cultural beliefs. Another example that Nye gives countering the idea of technological determinism is that of the wheel. He goes to say that the wheel, a seemingly inevitable piece of technology, was not used in North Africa at the eve of its creation. He claims Northern Africa used the camel for transportation because of the terrain and the weak road systems they had. This goes against Emerson’s belief that “things” will ride mankind because the wheel was not driven in Northern Africa for a while.
Most of Nye’s examples are arguments refute what Emerson was saying in his poem. Nye goes on to say clearly: “This is nonsense. No technology is, has been or will be a “natural force.” Nor will any technology by itself break down cultural barriers and bring world peace.” I believe this statement sums up his whole essay. When I weigh in my personal beliefs, I agree with Nye and his claims. My personal experiences with technology make me lean towards Nye’s argument. Technology was always served as entertainment and also a helpful resource for me. But I found that at times when my basic instinct told me that it was not needed and better not to be used, I was able to reject it and its influence on me temporally. There were times in my life when technology did not control me and I was able to reject its use and go on with my life. For instance, every time I run outside or practice for my team I go outside and enjoy nature while improving myself as a runner. At these times when all I have are mental thoughts and motivation in my head, technology is the last thing on my mind and it does not control me. Also, my parents were both born and raised in a small African village where that was no eminent form of technology. They always told me story about how life was simple and enjoyable then and it proves to me that man is not controlled my technology for life or happiness. This always showed me that although I use technology a lot, I never had to be dependent on in fully in life. Although technology does have an immense influence in my life, I control the way I live and I don’t believe that technology can change that.
Based on my personal beliefs and experiences, I reach the conclusion that human beings control their technological creations and not vice versa as Emerson is lead to believe. I believe that technology is built as a tool for mankind that it very helpful, but life itself is too broad. It is too vague of a tangibility to be control by something that mankind simply built. Life was not built by mankind and I don’t believe that man can build or invent a force that can control life. All in all, the underlying point is that that the tool of technology is a very valuable one that can be used in life, but it does not control mankind itself.
Word Count: 1,002
Work cited
Nye, David E. Technology Matters Questions to Live With. New York: The MIT, 2007. Print.
Ode, Inscribed to William H. Channing (1846) Emerson, Ralph Waldo. Early Poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson. New York, Boston, Thomas Y. Cromwell & Company: 1899
3 Questions
ReplyDelete1. RE: "With time there is a progression. Looking back at history until the present age, it is almost unanimous that the biggest indicator of progression that people notice is the technological advancements of the world."
In this question, does 'progression' mean change for the better, or just change?
2. RE: "Nye goes on to say clearly: 'This is nonsense. No technology is, has been or will be a “natural force.'"
What specific thinker is Nye contradicting in this sentence?
3. RE: "Another example that Nye gives countering the idea of technological determinism is that of the wheel. He goes to say that the wheel, a seemingly inevitable piece of technology, was not used in North Africa at the eve of its creation. He claims Northern Africa used the camel for transportation because of the terrain and the weak road systems they had."
Does this example of Nye's really indicate a rejection of technology, or merely a case in which a given technology was not practical in a given place? Another example might by Inuit people in the arctic rejecting air-conditioning; would they be rejecting technology or merely choosing not to embrace a specific tool for which they had no practical use?