The Evils of Technology

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The Evils of Technology

Technology is the application of knowledge to develop the tools our society requires to run. It is a combination of science, engineering, art, economics, and social studies that is brought together with creativity and ingenuity to improve the quality of human life. Technology is about making it faster, better, easier, more economical, or more efficient. It is about making the world a better place to live. However, what if we lived in a world where technology was used for crime, death, or destruction? This world exists today. Humanity’s ever increasing dependence on technology will ultimately lead to its demise. It has changed and enhanced the way of life for many, but without it, we would not be able to survive through today’s world.

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein pursues science and technology not for wealth or happiness, but to satisfy his obsession with it. He became so obsessed with creating life, that it clouded his judgment, and took up all of his time and energy. He depends on technology to lead him to success. However, Frankenstein's overconfidence in his abilities causes technology to turn against him. By assuming the role of God, Frankenstein chooses to give life to a monster that is a mirror image of his selfish self and consequently slaughters his family and friends. Dr. Frankenstein’s dilemma is that he does not apply his technology to society. He is so driven towards his goal that he never considers the consequences of his actions and creates a monster without a purpose. Similar is Nathaniel Hawthorn’s “The Birthmark,” in which the main character, Aylmer, is obsessed with science and initially putting his technology to use for the good of civilization. We see that Aylmer pursues the removal of his wife's birthmark with almost identical benevolent intentions, arguing that the removal of what he describes as "the visible mark of earthly imperfection" (158) will restore the perfect physical beauty of his wife. Akin to Frankenstein, Aylmer was so confident in his technology that "he felt he could draw a magic circle round her, within which no evil might intrude." (162)

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In Dr. Strangelove, Kubrick must also be making a comment on communication technologies, as the natural difficulty of the communication process is being demonstrated in almost every scene. Much of the dialog takes place over the telephone or radio and the major conflicts center around the miscommunication of both. In chronological order, Ripper's initial request to have Mandrake issue the "go code" to the bomb wing takes place over the phone. Then, Ripper orders the entire base to impound all radios, as they might be used to issue information to the enemy. The attack plan is then radioed to the ...

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