In this blog post, we will examine the meaning and limitations of scientific and technological determinism, as well as the role of scientists and engineers.
In the “Terminator” movie series, Skynet—a computer program created by humans—gains the ability to think independently, surpassing human intelligence, and ultimately takes control of the world by artificially triggering a nuclear war. After the nuclear war, Skynet completes the development of the Terminators, massacring the surviving humans and waging war against the human resistance. Director James Cameron’s deterministic perspective is prominent here. Determinism is the theory that everything that happens in the world is determined by preceding causes, and in this film, science and technology serve as those causes. A small technological advancement developed by humans in the past serves as the starting point, evolving into new technologies and ultimately leading to the unintended, massive consequence of nuclear war. This is reminiscent of the butterfly effect. From this perspective, science and technology appear to take precedence over other social factors and to transform society autonomously. This can be viewed as an example of technological determinism.
According to technological determinism, science and technology are autonomous in and of themselves and independently determine society. A prime example is the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, driven by the development of ancient iron smelting technology. The widespread adoption of iron farming tools increased agricultural productivity, and the resulting rise in surplus production accelerated social stratification. This led to the emergence of the king as the supreme ruler, transforming society from a chieftain-led state into a kingdom, and brought about changes in various domains, including culture and religion. Another example is the computer. Invented to make calculations more convenient, computers have continuously evolved and become widespread, finding applications in various fields such as ATMs, POS systems, smartphones, and artificial intelligence services. It is no exaggeration to say that today, not only the economic, political, and cultural aspects of South Korean society but also everyday life as a whole have been significantly transformed by advances in computer technology.
According to this scientific and technological determinism, since science and technology directly transform society, a social atmosphere may develop in which science and technology are prioritized over other values and excessively revered. As a result, science and technology may fail to strike a balance with social and cultural spheres, leading to the phenomenon of human alienation—where human values are relatively weakened—which in turn could give rise to various social problems. For example, the advancement of smartphones has led to a relative decline in direct, face-to-face interaction among people, while short, spontaneous exchanges of information—centered on social media—have increased significantly. In fact, smartphone overdependence is a social issue that is consistently being discussed in many countries. While the widespread adoption of smartphones has greatly enhanced the convenience and efficiency of daily life, it has also brought about new challenges, such as changes in human relationships and digital dependency. In this context, some argue that the advancement of science and technology does not necessarily transform society in a positive direction alone. Ultimately, the question, “Do the advancement of science and technology and the happiness of society’s members necessarily go hand in hand?” prompts us to reconsider the belief that society can reach an ideal state through science and technology alone.
However, it is difficult to deny the fact that advancements in science and technology have a direct impact on society, whether positive or negative. If so, is the power of science and technology truly autonomous, and is society inevitably powerless to resist being swept along by that power? Regarding this, there is also the view that social context determines the direction of scientific and technological development. From this perspective, the fundamental reason for the emergence of new science and technology lies in social demands, and the primary cause of societal change is also seen as social factors.
A prime example supporting this argument is when companies develop new technologies to pursue profits. Currently, major electronics companies such as Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are constantly developing new technologies to secure a competitive edge in the fiercely competitive market. A prime example is foldable display technology. Since its commercialization, the foldable display has formed a new product category in the smartphone market and has subsequently influenced the development of various forms of display technology and wearable devices. Companies are continuously advancing related technologies to secure market competitiveness and capture consumer demand. These technological advancements have enhanced the portability and usability of displays, gradually blurring the line between paper and digital devices and driving change across various industries. Ultimately, corporate profit-seeking spurs the development of new technologies, which in turn becomes a key catalyst for social change.
However, Samsung Electronics’ purpose in developing and commercializing foldable displays was not to change society, but to capture market share and generate profits. While such actions can serve as a starting point for social change, it is difficult to view them as having been directly intended to bring about social change itself. Therefore, it can be argued that science and technology possess an independent power to transform society, separate from their original development objectives. A similar example is the invention of dynamite. Although it was originally created to make mining safer and more efficient, its subsequent use in warfare accelerated the arms race.
These examples show that science and technology possess an independent power and can be utilized in unforeseen ways to transform society. This can lead society in a positive direction, or, in extreme cases, drive it into a desperate situation, as depicted in the movie ‘The Terminator’. According to technological determinism, in the process by which science and technology transform society, members of society may become objects rather than agents of change. However, upon further reflection, we must not forget that it is ultimately humans who develop and use science and technology. This raises the question: shouldn’t we simply refrain from using potentially dangerous science and technology altogether?
However, because science and technology not only possess their own power but are also closely intertwined with every sphere of society—including the economy, politics, and culture—artificially refraining from using technologies that are already in commercial use could realistically cause significant disruption. For example, this reality can be easily understood by imagining a scenario where all cell phone users abandon their smartphones and revert to 2G flip phones. Furthermore, new science and technology often serve as important solutions to environmental pollution and various social problems. Therefore, the issue of regulating science and technology is not a matter that can be decided as easily as turning a fluorescent light on or off.
Instead, scientifically trained professionals and experts in various fields can strive to anticipate the changes that will emerge in all sectors of society following the development of new science and technology. Today, social problems caused by science and technology can become even more severe when the systems for properly managing and responding to them are insufficient, rather than because of the technology itself. Therefore, if we anticipate the adverse effects that new technologies will bring from the very stage of their emergence and establish appropriate systems and control measures, we can significantly reduce the risks. In fact, to address the risks posed by nuclear weapons, the international community has established a nuclear non-proliferation regime and various international agreements. Had such international control mechanisms been put in place at an earlier stage, it might have been possible to reduce the risks posed by nuclear weapons more effectively. Going forward, we must actively foster experts capable of predicting the social changes that will follow technological development and encourage greater public participation. Furthermore, it is necessary to acknowledge, to some extent, the concerns raised by technological determinism and to cultivate social awareness of the risks posed by science and technology. Only by continuing our efforts to use science and technology responsibly and manage them proactively can we build a more desirable future society—rather than a bleak future like that depicted in ‘The Terminator’.
