Technology and Social Justice - Term Paper Example

Technology and Social Justice New technologies over the years have opened up countless opportunities in different ways. Technological innovations have also increased social oppressions and inequality. It has been argued that technology has been a major contributing factor to social injustice. Through history, personal stories and technological and ethical creativity are deductions of social injustice have been made. With each new technology comes a greater disparity of incomes in between the rich and the poor. The current society needs to address this issue. In the debate of new technologies and social injustice, there is the debate of robots and whether they are subhuman, human, superhuman or non-human. Scientists are putting their best effort to install in these machines, the human like features like reasoning, intelligence, emotions and so on. If a real breakthrough is accomplished, then robots will become better performers than humans – by virtue of their being machines. Robots are speedy and accurate. They can be used in carrying out difficult tasks like welding of machines in a high temperature environment. They do not get tired or stop to eat or require a break and most interesting of all to the modern manager, robots do not complain. Such features could lead to adoption of the robot-worker, replacing human labor. This contributes to social injustice. Humans will be having their robot colleagues in the work place and whether the two will complement or compete with each other is still uncertain (Rooksby). On March 13, 2004, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which is a small branch of the department of defense in the U.S and has the responsibility of developing the technology of the military celebrating its 10th anniversary of the DARPA Grand Challenge. 15 self-driving cars were involved in the exercise in which the robotic drivers sped through a 142-mile course between Barstow, California and Prim, Nev. The ensuing developments accelerated the development of autonomous vehicles that, according to the agency officials, could be very instrumental in doing cargo supplies and other military supplies to areas of combat without putting the lives of the human drivers in danger. Such technological inventions have promoted human justice by protecting their lives in time of war. Despite such advancements military armaments that are as a result of technology has caused lots of death and loss of earth around the globe. The use of atomic and nuclear bombs, machine guns and other weapons of mass destruction have led to many deaths in the First and the Second World War. In this case technology is evidently and clearly a major threat to human dignity and justice. Technology here has displayed itself as a threat to human security and peace. Armaments have being used to acquire and protect power since history of politics and economy. Nations have upgraded their arsenal, amassed for themselves weapons of mass destruction and redrawn their strategy in the battle field, ready for a battle whose time is unknown. Such undertakings have cost many lives and instilled fear to the human race (Laura). It is not a secret that machines in the modern days have the capability to do almost any task that can be done by humans. The fear has always be when the machines will surpass human intelligence. ‘Machine-intelligence’ explosion was brought up by a mathematician Stanislaw Ulam in 1958. He talked about the progress of technology that is always accelerating as well as the mode of life in humans that has been changing and offering the appearance of approaching some essential similarity in the history of the race beyond human affairs. This theory has been spread wide and far by a scientist who is futuristic; Ray Kurweil who pin-pointed 2045 as the year of similarity. In his argument, he believes that humans will be able to avoid death by 2045 as their consciousness will be easily downloaded to computers. In an article ‘Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us’ by Bill Joy, 2000, an argument of the 21st century technology – nanotech, genetic engineering and robotics will soon make humans endangered species. Machines are getting to be more intelligent majorly in the job market. Technological progress is accelerating innovation as leaves many workers behind. Technology in manufacturing and production has led to efficient and large-scale production which is more profitable and economical compared to the use of human labor. Technology has evidently destroyed jobs since the start of industrial revolution. Only a few of the rich and technological experts have been able to secure incomes through these technological advancements despite educating the human race on technology and machine operations, the industries have not been able to accommodate all the expertise for employment. The issue of efficiency of machines has been recommended over the human labor since most people spend leisure time in the working hours compared to machines. The threat of machines in acquiring human jobs in the manufacturing and industrial production, threatens human life. Work is healthy for human well being. Lack of work leads to social decay such as lack of cooperation of people, causes laziness and may lead to health problems due to lack of exercise. Machines such as manufacturing and production plants have led to pollution of the environment such as noise, air and water contamination and damage of the ozone layer, all of which have detrimental effects on humans. Human lifespan has reduced over the years and it is evidently due to some technological advancements. Products for human consumption from processing plants have reported huge side-effects in human life. Such products include tinned foods, freezers, air conditioners. However, technology has increased human lifespan in developed countries due to advanced medical inventions. This is however injustice since the poor are not able to afford such treatments and medicines. Medicines help prolong human life. This is due to technological advancements in the field of medicine. Detection of ailments caused by bacteria, viruses and other infections has become easy due to technology. It has also enabled the discovery of treatments through herbal, radioactivity and other forms of treatment. However, quality medicine is only available to the rich while the poor are not able to benefit from the same due to the high costs involved. In this case, technology contributes to social injustice by widening the gap between the rich and the poor. The modern medicine has been reported to decrease human lifespan than older treatment methods. This is due to many chemicals and preservatives used. Other modern treatment methods such as use of radioactivity technology in X-rays, chemotherapy and scanning kills human cells with detrimental side effects. Nations should come together to bring relevance of medicine by making it accessible to both rich and poor so as to save human life from infections and disorders. Computer and mobile technology has promoted globalization and social interactions. Computers have enabled communication which improves management of international business and improvement of social lives in terms of entertainment and networking of people from different parts of the world. Computers are more efficient and fast in database management compared to an average person. Many organizations have prospered in management since computers save time and are less costly. Stock trading has been enabled by computer technology all over the world resulting to investments by individuals across the globe. Through the internet, information is easily shared leading to more knowledge and reference that results to informed decisions. On the other hand, computers have caused mayhem in the social circles. People have been busy on computers and lose reality as far as social activity and learning social skills. Computers lower human thinking and risk the human sight. The internet has contributed to moral decadence due to the availability of pornographic sites. E-commerce has been made difficult due to conmen who advertise goods online to fleece unsuspicious buyers. Geeks and computer hackers have disabled efficiency of computer programs available in companies and governments, threatening the safety and reliability of computer data management. This has also contributed to social injustice through ways such as theft by staff in companies, interference of government systems for selfish reasons by politicians such as disruption of election systems. Although computers have brought much advancement, a large population in the world does not have access to computer services making the poor to be socially and technologically marginalized. Acquisition and maintenance of the computers has been costly to the individuals. Through the computer technology, the elements of wide communication and journalistic interpretation have brought political unrest among people resulting from huge reception of hate speech from political leaders to a big audience. The reactions to such information from the recipients could have disastrous effects such as war (Virginia). Education has advanced through technology. Students are able to get information and learn from a large audience which has led to social justice and discourages oppressive education. Teachers are also able to learn teaching ideas and can easily reach out to a community of educators through social sites such as twitter. Discussion forums are also available on the internet and hence away out for help and support in teaching has been acquired. The emerging trends in the education sector include e-learning which has enabled institutions to reach out to students in different part of the globe. Technology has been a major cause of social injustice among people from different parts of the world. Despite its advantages, technology poses a lot of threats to the survival and relevance of human nature. Technology should be developed with consideration of its affects mostly to human beings. Works Cited Eubanks, Virginia. Digital dead end fighting for social justice in the information age. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2011. Print. Leach, Melissa, Ian Scoones, and Andy Stirling. Dynamic sustainabilities technology, environment, social justice. London: Earthscan, 2010. Print. Moriarty, Laura J.. Criminal justice technology in the 21st century. 2nd ed. Springfield: Charles C Thomas Publisher, LTD, 2005. Print. Rooksby, Emma. Information technology and social justice. Hershey, PA: Information Science Pub., 2007. Print. Size does matter: nanotechnology : small science - big questions!. Fitzroy, Australia: Friends of the Earth Australia, 2006. Print. Read More