Does technological advancement result in erosion of human values and their real worth on this planet?

Question

It is noted that each technological improvement result in an increased level of general employment in most of the countries except few centres of concentration of latest generation of technical hands. Just very few places and very few employed people would need to work to meet the needs of the entire world population in the new technology likelyn to evolve. Most of the people may be rendered useless and jconsidered just a liability. Man would no longer need man for his survival. Could it result in a dinasaur like end of man leaving behind few robots drawing their life from atomic and solar batteries?

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The value of human life seems to have eroded. Humans are being killed like dogs and cats. Nobody mourns their death except for selfish motives. The value of anything depends upon its usefulness. Now Machines are more useful than humans. Everybody curse poors and not poverty. Poors are unemployed lot who are deprived of opportunities. Others are getting rich by selling their natural homes. Man will be left with glass houses and oxygen cylinders at ration shops. Man's real worth is almost gone. His mental capabilities have become almost redundant and likely to vanish shortly. Only humans can give a human touch to a decision but what about a decision which is taken by robots and computers. One can put anything in computer memory but never a self enlightened soul. The self enlightened soul has no meaning and value for the money mindeds. The rest, everyone knows but prefer to keep mum to secure one's share in illusive financial empire.

Answer 1

Erosion of human values:

As values erode, others take their place. I do not think the values of humans 10,000 years ago where necessarily better then those we have today. Values are always apt for their time. So the erosion of current human values yes, but this is not necessarily wrong in itself.

Human's real worth on this planet.

Are humans worth less today then they were 10,000 years ago? I think they are worth more. We take care of sick babies and adults until they get well and are able to help others in return. This is a good value that is possible today with today's medicine, but 99% of these cases would have resulted in certain death 10,000 years ago. So in my mind, the real worth has increased. Just because I use a vacuum cleaner and a dish washer and a washing machine to help me with my chores instead of employing a slave or a maid does not reduce any persons worth.

Nor will it in future as technology progresses.

Technology is a tool. As a tool, it greatly simplifies what would otherwise take much more effort. Technological advancement will result in erosion of human values and their real worth on this planet only if we want it to.

Answer 2

If you think the value of human life has eroded, you clearly have not seen any statistics on awards in wrongful death cases.

Additionally, man needs man for survival today as badly as never before. The population is aging, so there are more and more people who require long-term care. And technology is not likely to help here, since there is no technology that can automate bathing, dressing, and clipping toenails.

Answer 3

Interesting question. You only need to look at history to see that the answer to the human values part of your question is no. We've seen great advancements in technology over the past century and by most measure our values are better.

For example, I read recently estimated murder rates in the middle ages vs today. Our murder rates are an order of magnitude less (something like 1 per 10,000 today vs. 100 per 10,000 back then - but can't remember the exact figures).

As we advance in technology, that just frees up more time to figure out how to make other things better. 100,000 years ago most of our days would have been spent on the basics - finding enough calories to survive, making some sort of clothing and living in some makeshift shelter. Now, for a vast majority of people in America, those basic needs are met many times over.

As far as our real worth goes, as long as there is scarcity in resources, humans will likely play a part in serving ourselves. 200 years ago 70% of the US was involved in agriculture. Now, 3% is. The other 67% are now things like school teachers, foot doctors, rocket scientists, researching the human genome and programming websites like Yahoo!. We're only limited by our creativity and scarcity of resources.

Answer 4

YES IT DOES. Just when you think mankind is doomed the almighty God thing steps in and thwarts these might be God's plans for total control. "Could it result in a dinosaur like end of man leaving behind few robots drawing their life from atomic and solar batteries?" Not exactly the next step in evolution for humans is not annihilation but as a single cell amoeba thing. This state will survive for another billion years and be followed by a state of a single electronic 'impulse' state followed by ................................................................

Answer 5

What you say is true but I don't believe that man will expire - but only because I believe that there will be Divine intervention.

Without that, I think you are right on the mark - man and the dinosaurs would be history.

Answer 6

My husband and I had this discussion yesterday evening. We both think the answer to this question is YES, YES, YES!!!

Answer 7

Good question..I would think YES! Scarry..

Answer 8

Not necessarily.