Welcome to the information age. We find ourselves at a unique time in history. We are at a great crossroads. We are the generation that decides how we will put this boom in technology to use. It is easy to look back on others mistakes and point the finger. We can pass off global warming and pollution problems on them. But what will generations to come blame on us?
Nick Bostrom takes a more positive approach on this issue. He singles out humanity's three biggest problems as: death, existential risk, and that life isn't always as wonderful as it could be. He calls for us to change human nature in order to improve our lives and solve these problems. With these technological improvements, we could live forever. But is that such a good thing? Love could never fade and we would never forget. Nick forces us to examine what it really means to be human. He encourages us to develop and explore the realms of possibilities with careful consideration. Bruce Schneier assumes a more pessimistic role about the dawn of the information age. He sees it more as something uncontrollable and says "We're not going to stop the march of technology, just as we cannot uninvent the automobile". He believes that society only works because of its ephemeral nature. But what happens when nothing is temporary or fleeting?
There is no doubt that we are living in a time of change. It just depends how we channel the resources available to us. We are writing history right now. Let's make it a great story.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment