What Does it Mean to Be Human in a Technological Age Essay

What Does it Mean to Be Human in a Technological Age - Essay Example They have become vital to understand the mysteries of nature also but they have also introduced new factors and issues which are detrimental to the survival of future generations. It would not be wrong to suggest that the impact of technology on human society has to a great extent, tried to subvert the values and contextual reality of being an empowered human being. As McKibben says, with science and new technology, we have traded in old contexts that informed human lives, bargaining them in return for freedom, for liberation (15). One of the greatest philosopher and economist of the ninetieth century, Karl Marx stated that, â€Å"The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people.† This famous quote was based on one of his economic discussions where he argued that the pursuit of convenience through technology would only result in a high volume of useless people. In other words, the advancement of technology would result in higher rates of unemployment . According to Bill McKibben, an American environmentalist, technology and science have negatively affected other areas of human civilization such as the loss of traditional jobs such as farmers to more technologically oriented jobs which have led to the growth of capitalism, and the proper treatment of every part of the environment to devastation of the environment for the sake of natural resources, and advancement of modern human societies (15). McKibben’s concern is primarily intended as warning for scientists and rationalists as not to become God. The far reaching repercussions of genetic engineering when applied to human beings can be dangerous in its content and detrimental for the safe existence of our future generation. The importance of science and technology in our lives cannot be denied. But the time has come to reflect seriously as to what has been gained at what cost? It is easy to contribute the develop of society on the advancements made in the area of science and technology. But one forgets that it has also impacted adversely on the environment and has also been responsible for increasing unemployment across the globe. People have lost jobs to the machines which are invented to work longer hours and with more precision, thus making workers redundant. In short, technology has also brewed more discontent in the society where previously order reigned and legacy of work was carried forward by the next generations! Genetic engineering has been seen as panacea for creating perfect human being by the scientist fraternity. By altering human genes, babies can be created as per the requirements of the parents. Beautiful babies with perfect features and high IQ that can be eternal source of pride for the parents has now become a gross reality. The experiments on animals have made scientists confident of replicating desired genes in the embryo to create designer babies. McKibben fears that this could threaten the very rules of existence of human race t hat thrives on learning through experience and by using its intelligence to make empowered decisions. The new creed of human beings could well be programmed creatures who could also start questioning their intelligence because of the programmed intelligence! The unlimited possibilities of