Social Effects of Technology Essay -- essays research papers

Introduction The interaction of technology and society may be the one thing more than any other that gives society a meaning and defines us a human beings. In recent years it has become popular to point fingers of accusation at technology as if it were "autonomous" and driving us all to perdition. I take other view. No doubt the uses of technology and society interact strongly. I think it wrongheaded and very naive to think of aggressive technology affecting a passive society eroding away the things that give society value and leaving behind a rusted hulk. Admittedly there always the potential for abuse or misuse of a technology, but technology is not inherently destructive, I argue. In the following we will consider ten effects of technology. No doubt many more can be thought of. Instead of, or in addition to the list below, we might include the effect of technology on health, on other technology or on the security of the individual and the nation. I consider these and other topics as too narrow in scope or able to be covered under one or more of the other headings. I believe the following ten can be used as a systematic first step into the study of technology and society. Here is the list of effects. Following that I will discuss each briefly. Finally I will present a list of nine values regarding the interaction of technology and society to guide our analysis. Ten Effects of Technology Technology's Effect on Commerce Technology's Effect on Social Systems Technology's Effect on The Environment Technology's Effect on Individual Psychology Technology's Effect on The Rate of Change Technology's Effect on Institutions Technology's Effect on Individual Freedom Technology's Effect on Our Perception of Reality Technology's Effect on Our Mutual Dependence Technology's Greatest Effect In the following each of these are briefly discussed. Technology's Effect on Commerce The first field deals with the economic and commercial consequences of the technology in question, whether it is an existing historical technology or a burgeoning one that is just beginning to impact the society. This was not chosen without considerable thought. The impact of technology on the commercial aspect of human culture is a major one. Most technological changes begin in the economic realm. Technology is a key factor in the supporting and developing of an... ... the argument that nature was created specifically for our use. There is pleasure and value for humans in nature. Preserving diversity preserves opportunities for pleasure. Ecologistic-Scientific values Humans enjoy the systematic study of nature. Esthetic Values Symbolic Values We use technology everyday -- in common speech, in literature, in art, in fact, in many ways for communication and thought. Humanistic Values Moralistic Values Dominionistic Values Humans seem to have a need to dominate nature. Generally one tries to preserve one's dominion. Negativistic Values This is the flip side of the positive values 1-8 above. This alludes to fear and alienation people feel toward some parts of nature such a spiders and snakes. Those who hold negative values may not support preservations attempts if they conflict with these values. Education plays a role -- a very strong role -- in the values a person holds. The more education one has received, the more one will tend to stress the importance of humanistic, moralistic and scientific values, downplaying dominionistic, utilitarian, and negativistic values. Those with less education tend to see things the other way around.