Has technology lowered the value of human life?

I chanced upon a softcopy version of a General Paper essay which I wrote during JC days and thought my ideas and writing style were rather interesting and amusing back then. Unless you're very free, there's no need to read this post. I'm simply just reminiscing the good old student days...

Technology has improved by leaps and bounds in the last century, so much so that one cannot help but stand in awe of the progress that led to these inventions. The advent of cutting-edge technologies have no doubt increased and enriched the sanctity and quality of human life. Yet, Science is both peril and promise, bane and blessing. Despite being accorded for its abilities to transform the world and bring about radical changes to man’s lives, one cannot put aside the fact that the backlash of technology can deteriorate man’s humanity, sanctity and ethics, thereby leading to a precipitous dip in the value of human life. In this light, technology has indeed enhanced the value of human life but one can never deny that technology is a double-edged sword.

Ever since medical technology, especially in the area of stem cell technology, was initiated, perennial debates sparked off as opponents of medical technology have claimed that the latter has been elevated to the role of God, thereby undermining the sanctity of human life. The controversy on the practice of stem cell research on the human race consists of greatly polarized opinions and the profound moral and ethical issues posed cannot be taken lightly. A case in point can be seen in scientists toying with the notion of human cloning, which has brought about a vehement protest from religious authorities and the humanitarian groups. Ethical controversy stems from the deliberate alteration of genes and mutation of cells to create an ideal clone. Christianity, Islam and Buddhism are against such research as embryos are killed in the process of manipulation of human life. Seen in this light, the breach of morality has indubitably infringed the sanctity of human life. Science appears to play God, thereby undermining morality and depreciating human life, causing the world to lapse into dilemma.

It is axiomatic that the abuse in technology has spurred moral degradation especially amongst teenagers today. One key criticism of the mass media is the increased violence and pornographic graphics, which may have undesirable effects on the impressionably and immature children and teenagers. The ubiquitous usage of the Internet has created an easy access to millions of pornographic and violent websites. Credulous teenagers will subconsciously accept these images as a norm due to the prevalent nature of these graphics in the IT realm, thereby learning about pre-marital sex and other adult activities the wrong way. The release of these graphics to the masses via the different modes of the mass media is widely unacceptable and is considered a taboo especially in conservative societies as these graphics will inevitably pollute the teenagers’ minds and subsequently cause them to imbibe erroneous values, thereby contributing to the deterioration of their psyche. This explains the unprecedented three-fold increase in juvenile crimes, such as premarital sex and fights in many developed countries. Moreover, the presence of chat lines in the IT world has become a playground for many innocent girls to become victims of the malicious Internet users. Hence, it is not at all a wonder that many societies are facing the pressing problem of moral degradation stemming from the detrimental influence of the mass media today.

Technology has no doubt been manipulated to invent deadly military weapons, causing a loss of humanity. Developments in technology were carried out for a sole cause of improving human welfare. Ironically, the production of nerve gases and bombs enables soldiers to torture and kill. The use of chemical weapons in contemporary warfare by zealous terrorist groups and draconian politician leaders has been exploited to the extent that these actions were viewed as ruthless and unscrupulous by the masses. A case in point can be seen in the holocaust during WWII, where six million Jews were demised using a gas chamber. Furthermore, in 1994, an ethnic genocide took place in Rwanda between the Hutus and the Tutsis, creating a magnificent upheaval. These happenings have indeed witnessed the loss of humanity, as large groups of people were killed innocently under the brutal hands of terrorist and political leaders. Undeniably, the developments of insidious technologies have allowed tyrants, dictators and terrorists to blackmail the world, thereby suppressing and causing a mammoth of people to die. Such a prevalent phenomenon has indeed showed how insignificant humanity is today.

Unprecedented breakthroughs in medical advancements have created remedies for incurable diseases, thereby enabling one to appreciate the sanctity of life. The invention of vaccines to cure fatal diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria has been hailed as one of the greatest scientific achievements in this era. A case in point can be seen in the creation of the anti-tetanus immunization and typhoid immunization which aims to combat and cure diseases caused by bacterial getting into wounds and infectious diseases which produce fever and diarrhoea respectively. Also, with precise medical procedures in place, patients will inexorably have a higher rate of success in operations and can lead normal lives. The myriad of newly invented drugs churned out can also help the sick and improve the plight of the poor. This can be witnessed in the aid given to HIV patients in Aids-inflicted country, Africa, through subsidized modern drugs. The revolutionary progress made by medical technology has no doubt allowed mankind to appreciate life at a deeper level, thereby increasing the sanctity of life. Unlike the past where death was prevalent due to the widespread infection of diseases, man can now experience a longer life span, thereby holding the sanctity of life in high esteem.

It is undeniable that many technological advancements serve as therapeutic and entertainment tools to enhance the quality of human life in today’s competitive and stressful world. In the medical arena, the production of facial cosmetics and dieting pills has whipped up a surge of interest especially amongst the females as appearance begins to take on a presiding influence on mankind in today’s contemporary world. Many societies apparently perceive thin women as pretty and mucho men as handsome. Such generalization often causes many women and men to pursuit dieting pills as their only source of hope, which can provide them with immeasurable amount of happiness. These pills provide a ray of hope for the obese who hitherto have to face societal discrimination, thus contributing to inferiority complex and low self esteem. Hence, by popping these pills into their bodies, the positive end result will inevitably improve their outward appearance, thereby boosting their confidence and enhancing their quality of life. The improved quality of life can also be attributed to IT, which served as a therapeutic tool. Melodious and harmonious music downloaded via the Internet undeniably help to relieve the stress prevalent among many people today, as lifestyles are competitive and hectic in many developed societies. No doubt, such music can allow one to relax his or her strained muscles and psyche after a tedious hard day of work. In this respect, one’s quality of life has been enhanced and taken on to a higher level. Thanks to technology.

In the light of the above discussion, technology is both a boon and a bane. Perhaps advocates of technology perceive the latter to have enriched the value of human life especially in terms of its quality, but one should not repudiate the fact that science cannot be compromised. Its backlash can spawn a cataclysm which no man can avoid and ignore its repercussions on the humanity, morality and sanctity of human life. Technology is a force not to be reckoned with as it wields extraordinary power, which can both enhance and depreciate the value of life in different aspects. The spurious claim that technology has one-sidedly improved or lowered the value of human life would thus be a sheer fallacy.