Message-ID: <2.2.32.19961004180614.0069d2a4@mail.caribsurf.com> Date: Fri, 4 Oct 1996 14:06:14 -0400 From: James Corbin <mailto:James@CARIBSURF.COM> Subject: Re: ideas of "appropriate technology" still respected? To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
On Thu, 3 Oct 1996, Ian Hodur wrote:> I would aruge technology is "bad". It provides humankind with the
> potential to do massive good (medicine) and massive harm (toxic waste).
> The fault in technology is that it provides access to power faster than
> cultures can adapt to control it (norms, etc.) and do "good" with it.
> Technology demands a pace that we as a specis are not suited to.
Ian.
My view is that technology is neither good or bad, it i neutral. It is the use to which technology is put. A knife is neither good or bad. It can be used for good in the cooking process and it can be used in a bad way to kill or main a person.
Similarly a computer is neither good or bad but it is the use to which it is put that use can be legal or illegal. The Internet this very medium we are using for this discussion is another example. This discussion we are having using this medium is excellent.People from all over the world sharing views, agreeing and disagreeing with each other,but it is done in a civil manner. Now contrast this with the use of the Internet for lies, promoting racial hatred, pornography etc.
In the end we, humans, decide the good or bad, use or abuse, of technology, and because we come in all shapes and sizes there will always be abuse of technology. The bottom line is technology will always be use for "evil" purpose by some of our fellow mankind.
James ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- James J. Corbin Barbados Phone: (246)-431-1456 Fax: (246)-436-5036 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------