Reassessing Progress in the 21st Century: Technology's Paradox
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Understanding the Disconnect
The young woman, visibly distressed, had just escaped the turmoil in Ukraine with her family, narrowly avoiding the chaos of Russian artillery. “How can this be occurring in 2022?” she questioned a CNN reporter, bewildered. “We have Teslas and so much remarkable technology.”
This is a common and valid inquiry in today’s world. We exist in an era that boasts unparalleled technological advancements, where vast amounts of information can be shared globally in an instant, and where nearly all human knowledge is just a click away. However, the stark images emerging from Ukraine present a grim and archaic reality.
This cognitive dissonance is rooted in our misplaced trust in technology and a consequent neglect of other forms of human advancement.
When you think of the term “future,” what images come to mind? It’s likely a vision of a dazzling technological paradise—flying cars, hovercraft, and immersive virtual realities. This mindset is problematic. We tend to envision the future predominantly through a technological lens; societies that are deemed “advanced” are those showcasing the most impressive gadgets, while less developed regions are often characterized by outdated technology.
So, we return to the question posed by that Ukrainian refugee: how can such a devastating conflict occur in a world filled with smartphones and electric vehicles? The reality is that these phenomena are not intrinsically linked. Technology does not reduce the chances of war or its severity; in fact, it may exacerbate both.
The 20th century, known as history's bloodiest era, coincided with remarkable technological innovations: from cars to airplanes to computers. Far from making warfare less deadly, technology has enhanced its lethality, leading to mass casualties on an unprecedented scale. While medical science advanced during this time, these gains were often outstripped by the deadly efficiency of modern weaponry.
We have outsourced our most profound human desires to our smartphones and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. It’s time to reclaim our sense of agency and responsibility.
Examining Modern Warfare
At first glance, it may seem that technology has transformed warfare significantly. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is not only reported on but is streamed directly to our devices. Companies like Planet provide real-time, high-resolution imagery of the destruction taking place. Unlike many past conflicts, this war unfolds under the scrutiny of a global audience.
However, it's important to note that not everyone has access to these images. A significant portion of the Russian populace remains shielded from the brutal realities of this conflict, and the one person who possesses the power to halt it, Vladimir Putin, appears indifferent to the suffering displayed.
Russia’s military is proving that our faith in technology can be misguided, as they utilize advanced weaponry like thermobaric bombs while employing tactics reminiscent of medieval sieges—bombarding cities and mercilessly attacking civilians.
Consider the technological progress made since 1975, and then examine this chart.
Source: Uppsala Conflict Data Program
Currently, there are more armed conflicts occurring globally than at any other time in recent memory. (In the graph, red indicates state-based violence, green represents non-state violence, and yellow shows one-sided violence.) Notably, this chart does not account for the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
Technology alone will not pave the way to peace. No advanced digital tool, algorithm, or database can prevent human beings from causing harm to one another. While we may acknowledge this reality, our actions often suggest otherwise. Our unwavering belief in technology’s power serves only to distract us from the crucial work of moral and ethical improvement.
I am not advocating for a regression to a primitive lifestyle; rather, I appreciate the conveniences and connections that technology provides. The issue lies not with technology itself but with the unrealistic expectations we place upon it. We often expect it to resolve all our issues, including the persistent problem of war. It’s essential to regain our sense of human agency and accountability.
Rethinking Progress
To build a brighter future, we might benefit from looking to the past, particularly ancient Greece. The Greeks were renowned for many achievements, but technology was not among them. They regarded the pursuit of gadgets as “trivial and unworthy,” according to Armand D’Angour, a classicist at Oxford University. In ancient Athens, inventors and tinkerers were often viewed as low-status individuals, lacking the recognition afforded to warriors, athletes, or thinkers. An innovative figure from Silicon Valley, had they existed in that era, would likely have been met with scorn and limited financial reward.
The ancient Greeks measured progress by different standards. Plato observed, “What is honored in a country will be cultivated there.” The Greeks, despite their flaws, valued beauty, justice, and moral excellence, and thus nurtured those ideals. In contrast, our society prioritizes speed, connectivity, and convenience, which shapes our outcomes.
We need a fundamental reevaluation of what we mean by “progress” and “future.” By doing so, we can make real advancements. While we may not be able to entirely eliminate war—given the complexities of human nature—we will no longer pose the question, “How can this be happening in the 21st century?” Instead, we will understand the reasons behind it and, more importantly, we will be equipped to take meaningful action.
Exploring the Broader Implications
In the first video, "The Crisis of the 21st Century," we delve into the profound challenges we face today, examining the intersection of technology, conflict, and societal values.
The second video, "Off the Edge of History: The World in the 21st Century," provides a perspective on how our current trajectory shapes the future and the implications of our reliance on technology.