Environmental Problem - Essay Example

Effect of technology on human conditions Technological advancements have immensely affected humanity and human living conditions in present day world. Though there have been several positive effects, the existence of mankind is facing a serious threat from modern day technological development. The initial achievements made in the field of science and technology was focused towards the improvement of the human condition and people believed that wars and diseases would only be temporary occurrences and that the spirit of humanity will prevail.

However with the beginning of the World Wars and subsequent development of the atom bomb that took the lives of millions across the globe, the real effect of technology on the life of humans was clearly evident. Our ancestors firmly believed that any form of technological advancements should enhance the knowledge of humans and be able to contain the goodness of humanity. They believed that the human condition was about transcendence and that there is a supreme reason behind the existence of mankind.

They focused on practicing moral virtues and maintaining friendships. However, the world that we are in today is far from what they had envisaged. The modern world is more focused on producing goods and making money and humanity and cultural ethics are no longer finding a place in the regular businesses of men. Cultural institutions play a major role in constantly reminding us about how we have to lead our lives and ways to improve the human condition. Great philosophers such as Aristotle and Socrates believed in transcendence and channelized their work and life towards living a virtuous and moral life.

The change from a transcendent living towards a more secularized life can be attributed to movements such as the Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment and Marxism. All these movements worked towards promoting human reasoning beyond any cultural or religious belief. They lead the way to the development of modern day beliefs in relativism and agnosticism. In relativism moral beliefs no longer a common ground, rather it has become more subjective with every individual possessing their own moral beliefs and practicing the same without affecting those of another person.

The religious belief held by Hebrews that God is the Supreme Being who loves all of us unconditionally and commanded us to live a virtuous life has not been reversed by agnosticism in which God is merely considered to be an idea as there is no real proof of his existence. The growth of technology has posed two serious consequences that could affect the growth of human condition. This includes economies that are unregulated and loyalism in politics. In the unregulated growth of the economy the owners build their profits at the expense of the poor working class.

This ultimately would result in increasing the economy of the wealthy while the condition of the working class and poorer population remaining the same. Thus a global improvement in human condition would be affected through such as process. Political loyalism is based on fear for the economically rich and developed nations and hatred towards the poorer and underdeveloped countries. The situation has only worsened with the advent of the nuclear bomb which is possessed by the rich and poor economic nations.

In addition, there are also various forms by which technology is misused like the increasing use of pornography that has reduced the importance attached to real physical beauty that was created by God, unregulated use of communications for purposes such as spying, plagiarism and spreading hate, use of medical technologies for purposes such as abortion, pre-marital sex and euthanasia and the widespread pollution of natural resources such as air and water by various activities of human. However, bringing about the right changes is also in the hands of each and every human being.

When they realize the effects of being self-enclosed and develop a compassionate attitude and a tendency to love and care for people it would be possible to get rid of all the negative effects brought forth by technological advances. Thus it is up to every human being to strive to bring about a radical change in human living conditions and promote the true essence of humanity. ReferencesDunne, Tad. “A History of Technology and the Human Condition.” Lonerganresourse. 26 Oct. 2010. Web. 21 Apr.

2013 http://www.lonerganresource.com/pdf/articles/Dunne-History_of_Technology_and_the_Human_Condition.pdf