Technology's Downfall

I have taken many viewpoints in my search for technology, and progressed to a reasonably working definition. However, I have not yet analyzed technology’s influence on how humans exist in the world. Technology may appear to be a wonderful thing. The potential is literally limitless. While we would hope that technology would take us to only a greater quality of life, there is also a chance that technology would destroy life as we know it. Philosopher Jaques Ellul claimed in his The Technological Society that technology could allow us to lose our humanity. He wrote, “Enclosed within his artificial creation, man finds that there is ‘no exit’; that he cannot pierce the shell of technology to find again the ancient milieu to which he was adapted for hundreds of thousands of years.” This phrase scares me to some degree because it is so true. If it weren’t for the technology we have today, most people could not survive. Medicine, water purification, and food preparation are just a few examples of technology that people need to have for survival. Through our advances, we have lost the skills to be self-sufficient.

Another change needs to be made to my definition. I need to add that technology holds a state with the society that uses it. Civilization uses technology so often that we rely on it. As opposed to saying “change quality of life”, I think “dictate quality of life” is more appropriate. Technology has had such a large impact on our world that it is essentially controlling how we live. Going against technology seriously hinders one’s prospects for survival. I think people today need and rely on technology. My new definition for technology is a human-made, understandable, adaptable, and present product of thought that intends to dictate quality of life for a specific group of people.