This blog post examines whether the dazzling development of science and technology will bring prosperity to humanity or bring about new risks.
In the movie Minority Report, there is a scene in which a prophet prevents a murder by predicting the future murder. Not only is the prediction used, but the scene of the prediction is also restored to video by technology, and the investigators catch the criminals by using various high-tech equipment. If this technology is applied in reality, we may be able to live in a world without crime. However, in this film, there is a scene in which Lamar Bezies, the inventor of the crime prevention system, abuses the system to cover up the murder he has committed. The film ends with Bezies tragically committing suicide after all his secrets are revealed by the main character, Anderton. The technology created to prevent murder has ultimately fallen into the hands of murderers.
The development of science and technology that can predict and prevent crimes in movies also teaches us a great lesson. Can science and technology, which have continued to develop to provide convenience to humans, be a means to solve the various challenges we face? As much as science and technology have changed human life, can we control the new problems that arise from it?
Since the appearance of mankind on Earth, it has undergone countless changes, and the driving force behind those changes has been the development of science and technology. Humans, who had been dying from bacterial infections, were able to escape the danger of bacteria with the discovery of penicillin. The invention of the steam engine also meant that machines could do the work instead of humans having to use their own strength, and the development of transportation allowed people to travel between continents, and the development of the Internet has ushered in an era where we can find out about events happening on the other side of the world in real time. These advancements in science and technology have brought new cultures and lifestyles to humanity, and our daily lives are filled with the products of science and technology.
In particular, in the 20th century, we witnessed the dazzling development of science and technology. The development of aviation technology has made it possible to no longer spend a lot of time traveling long distances, and space exploration has made it possible to explore the world beyond the Earth. Medical technology innovations have greatly extended human life, and gene editing technology has opened up the possibility of treating genetic diseases. As such, the development of science and technology has brought about a revolutionary change in the lives of mankind. And this development will continue in the future, fundamentally changing the shape of our society and the lives of individuals.
However, the flip side of this development is that the more science and technology develop, the greater the risks that come with it. The development of science and technology brings enormous benefits to people, but at the same time, it can also bring about new risks that humans cannot control. For example, dynamite was developed as a very useful tool for demolishing buildings, but it became a weapon that took many lives in war. Also, nuclear fission technology has brought us high-efficiency energy in the form of nuclear power, but it has also created weapons of mass destruction in the form of nuclear bombs. It is dangerous to blindly believe in science because there is always the possibility that science will be misused by human hands beyond its intended purpose.
Nevertheless, we cannot stop the development of science and technology. Humankind has progressed with the development of science and technology, and our lives have changed beyond recognition thanks to it. Science and technology have a great potential to change our lives for the better in the future. The problems we are currently facing, such as the food shortage caused by the rapid population growth, cannot be solved without the help of science and technology. We can only find a solution by increasing food production through genetic engineering technology. As such, we cannot miss the bright side of science and technology.
However, we should not blindly trust science and technology. As mentioned above, science and technology bring enormous benefits, but at the same time, unexpected side effects can occur. It is a big mistake to believe that all problems can be solved with science and technology. This is because science and technology are imperfect in themselves.
Ethical and moral standards are essential for the development and use of science and technology. In the movie Minority Report, the protagonist, Anderton, was almost killed by a murderer according to the prediction of the crime prevention system, but he does not commit murder through an ethical judgment that “murder can never be justified.” In this way, science and technology are ultimately just tools used by human values and moral judgment. Therefore, it is the ethical standards of humans that determine the fate of science and technology, and when these standards are set correctly, the side effects of science and technology can be minimized.
We must also pay attention to solving the side effects brought about by the development of science and technology. For example, many jobs are disappearing due to the development of artificial intelligence and automation technology, and this is a risk of deepening social inequality. The development of information and communication technology is also increasing the risk of personal information leakage and cybercrime. These problems remain challenges to be solved along with the benefits of science and technology.
The future that the development of science and technology will bring to humanity is certainly bright and endless. However, we must always be aware that science and technology itself has limitations in positively affecting human life. Science and technology are tools developed and used for the benefit of humans, and how those tools are used is entirely up to human choice. Therefore, we must move towards using science and technology ethically and morally.
In conclusion, the development of science and technology has the power to greatly change our lives, but that development does not necessarily guarantee the happiness of humanity. Moral and ethical judgment is essential to minimize the side effects of science and technology. Science and technology are imperfect in themselves, so the responsibility and obligation of the human who uses the technology is more important for us to truly use science and technology correctly.
