Can Humanity Master Technology?

One of the great questions of our age is whether or not we as human beings will be able to master technology or will we continue to be mastered by it? Essentially, it is a moral question.

19. Can Humanity Master Technology?

Technology. It is a difficult argument today to try and convince ourselves that we as human beings are still masters of our tools, machines and technology. Our lives are so shaped and governed by technology, and more importantly, by technical thinking, that we can scarcely see the fullness of its influence all around us. We are like fish swimming in water and do not realize we are wet.

There is no denying that there is immense power in the technical. It lays at the foundation of much of our lives today. It is integral to science, medicine, manufacturing, communications, transportation, administration and more. Many of us feel trapped by technology, but we know that letting go of technology means letting go of its power. It is not by accident that Tolkien wove our relationship to technology into his story about middle earth, tying it to the ring of power.

I have often used the analogy that the knowledge of technique and the technical are very much like the Tree of the Knowledge of Good …