Issue 114

TOPIC: ISSUE114 - "Humanity has made little real progress over the past century or so. Technological innovations have taken place, but the overall condition of humanity is no better. War, violence, and poverty are still with us. Technology cannot change the condition of humanity."
WORDS: 506 TIME: 00:42:41 DATE: 2008-3-24 14:39:57

The speaker asserts that humanity has not progressed during the most recent century, and claims that technological innovations contribute little to the development of humanity. However, I tend to disagree with both counts of the statement. Last century is replete with archetypes that can demonstrate considerable amelioration of human beings. Technological improvements have also indeed change the condition of humanity since the beginning of last century.

To begin with, if we define progress of humanity as one characterized by greater tolerance for distinctive viewpoints, greater respect for individual rights, and more extensive cooperation across multi-cultures, humanity indeed has made prominent attainments during the most recent century. Consider, for example, any one today can freely express his or her social or political perspective, which was hard to imagine in the 1900s. Or consider the fact that people in contemporary are much more tolerant and rational to the phenomenon of homosexuals that were extremely prejudiced by the majority of folks. Moreover, differing cultures in distinct countries of the world are much more easily accepted and appreciated by the masses now, albeit the case in the early of last century was worse. In short, humanity indeed has achieved enormous progress over the most recent century or so.

Consider next the arguer's second claim that technology innovations or ameliorations have not conspicuously influenced social customs, ethics or any other aspect of our daily life. In my observation, this perspective is poorly supported by empirical evidence. In effect, advances of technologies have gradually changed the way in which the multitudes live. For instance, any one would accede to the fact that the invention of cell phone available during the 1940s to 1950s has fabulously altered the method in which humans communicate. People seldom utilize correspondences and gain much from instant message software invented in computer technology. Another paradigmatic example will appear if we consider the great improvements in medicine. People today are much more relax when they have to confront the dental problems than they once were in last century.

The speaker might point out that war, violence and poverty are still pervasive and many folks are suffering from these cataclysms as they were in last century. However, the speaker fails to consider the positive efforts that are masked by these ostensible phenomena. For instance, crisis in Afghanistan has aroused extensive attention coming from all over the world, and multi-nations have sent their soldiers to keep peace in that district. People there are enjoying a peace and more comfortable life than they were before the crisis. Moreover, the most recent century has seen increasing sensitivity in our society towards public security by policing crimes. Farmers who once resided in poor areas are the very beneficiaries of policies carried out by government. Albeit poverty stills exists in certain districts of the world, people are indeed becoming wealthier and blithe.

In summary, empirical evidence strongly confute what the speaker advocates. Since the most recent century, humans have fulfilled innumerous achievements and have benefited much from innovations of technology and science. Therefore, in the final analysis, I fundamentally disagree with the statement.