262. Technological Change

Every new technology revives the worry that we might have gone too far. We become concerned that our new creation has taken something away from what it is to be human and deprived us of meaning and purpose. It is only with time that we see that while we have lost something, we’ve also found new sources of meaning, in addition to the material benefits that the new technology has produced.

There are always those who would prefer to return to a simpler form of life, one that is not mired in the complexities of advanced technology. But any such return would hinder human creativity, for the expansion of our tool set is also a kind of creative growth. Our creative abilities expand as we become more aware of ourselves and the world, and technological innovation is an inescapable part of this process.

As we learn about our world and its ways, we discover new paths of creative expression. We always follow these paths, regardless of the potential risks, for it is by doing so that we develop new capacities to effectively meet our needs. What typically prevents needs from being met is not technology but the rigidity of human-imposed systems that do not allow our new tools and their products to be made available to those who would most benefit from them.

It is precisely our lack of awareness of the normative world that allows these harmful systems to continue, and it is their dominance that makes new technologies dangerous. When we lack awareness, our new creations can easily be used to further injustice, even when our intentions are good.

Regardless, any attempt to limit technological change will fail for the same reason any attempt to limit creativity will ultimately fail. Human creativity always transcends any possible limitations that are placed on it, which means our world is continuously being recreated.

Change can be scary, but we should not try to avoid it for that reason. Instead, we must do everything we can to raise the awareness of ourselves and others. By doing so, we can create the systemic changes necessary to ensure our new technologies are used for compassionate ends and not to perpetuate injustice.