Technology and its Backlashes - Speech or Presentation Example

Russell and Bone further stated that modern technology, although sometimes not the direct cause of the impending eradication of humanity, is definitely the means that humans will use in pushing their causes that will ultimately end the existence of man (24). The earth, as humans know it today, has been much influenced by numerous scientific inventions (Haven 109). The influence that science has over man’s social lives, infrastructures, tools, food, and many others is a solid evidence of the veracity of this statement.

For example, fossil fuel and computer technology are part of the world’s daily existence (Haven 135). Fossil fuel is necessary in water purification process, communication, manufacturing industry, electricity, road construction, food processing, and other things necessary for the regular flow of daily living (Haven 137 and Milne 36). Subsequently, computer technology is essential not only in the above-mentioned processes, but also in other areas of human lives, like social or work aspects (Milne 43).

Since fossil fuel and computer technology are examples of science, it is thus not an exaggeration to suppose that humankind is highly likely dependent on the advances of today’s technology. . One major example is the two world wars during the past century. Conflicts between nations resulted in the death of millions of people by means of using artillery or bombs. Who could forget the City of Hiroshima destroyed by just one atomic bomb? If this massive damage was possible over six decades ago, how much more possible is it to cause larger damages now with man’s latest technology?

(Russell and Bone 41) Obviously, the question now is not whether man can eradicate his own specie or not, but when would he decide to do it. However, several people would argue that science has done more good than bad, particularly when one would look at the health solutions made available by the latest technology, curing diseases that were previously thought of as terminal. Yet, upon further evaluation, several of these diseases, which cures depend on science, are by-products of science in the first place (Milne 68).

This is not to say though that progress is a bad thing. However, man should have a realistic viewpoint on what he brings upon himself. Just the fact that both health and armaments fall under the top three largest businesses in the world (Barrie 6) presents a clear picture of the path that man’s existence takes. The changing environment caused the extinction of dinosaurs, and man is faced with the same concern. The difference however is that the present change in environment is man-made (Russell and Bone 10).

Nevertheless, the same failure to adapt that caused dinosaurs to become extinct will also cause man a similar fate. The massive changes man creates in nature deplete the sources at a faster rate than can be recovered (Burroughs 121). An obvious proof of this is the pollution problem that science cannot control,