I was having a discussion with a friend about "Nature" and "technology". Basically she was touting the evils of technology and how she views technology as not natural as it in fact destroys nature every day...it is evil...etc, etc. I saw the chance, for the sport, to present the opposing view.
It all came down to feeling that technology IS natural. Technology is not only a creation emerging from a natural body (us) it many times is, in fact, the extension of our bodies....a technological exo-skeleton that we fashion specifically because we are no longer satisfied with the alacrity at which genetic evolution patiently trudges ahead to perfection. We are no longer satisfied with being the passenger on the DNA bus....we need to take the wheel. We cannot wait to evolve wings through mutation so we build planes to fly. We are becoming and transforming into the reflection of our most inspirational dreams and through that creation embody our darkest nightmares.
YesI believe our ingenuity and novelty continue to expand at an alarming rate. This is troublesome. It appears the rate of technological evolution is greatly surpassing the evolution of societal morality and ethics. We pay little mind to the development of the philosophical tools necessary to wield these powerfully transforming manipulations of matter. Is this the test that all intelligent beings must face in the universe? Perhaps.
But my challenge to herand to you my dear journal readers is thisis technology unnatural? I offer up that it IS natural and fully part of nature.
Why? Because we as human beings are a pure creation of nature. We are simply animals that mother nature has imparted with a large brainpan and neural connections that enable us to transform the world around us with greater dexterity and speed than any other animal on the planet. We are natural and therefore, by proxy, what we create is natural. Our creations whether they are biological children or technological inspiration are the product of our hands, yes. But they are all natural products springing from a natural source.
Whos to say all of this is not natures intent? Why cant all of this creation and destruction be a natural eventeven if it is at the hands of the human race? Humans are an extension of Nature and are naturalTechnology is an extension of Humanstherefore technology is an extension of Nature and also is natural.
Convince me to the contrary if you can.
and now some definitions for you scholars. Its not enough, however, to quote Webster.anyone can find a definition saying, Not created by the hand of Man. We are not sheep on SG. You gotta back it up with logic
(n.) The existing system of things; the world of matter, or of matter and mind; the creation; the universe.
(n.) The personified sum and order of causes and effects; the powers which produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail; the agencies which carry on the processes of creation or of being
(n.) The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect.
(n.) Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artifical, or forced, or remote from actual experience.
Gotta go now...got a busy week ahead....
P.S. - I've already thought of an argument to the contrary of my position....I'm gonna keep this to myself however to see if anyone else comes up with it...
...I know I suck.... 
It all came down to feeling that technology IS natural. Technology is not only a creation emerging from a natural body (us) it many times is, in fact, the extension of our bodies....a technological exo-skeleton that we fashion specifically because we are no longer satisfied with the alacrity at which genetic evolution patiently trudges ahead to perfection. We are no longer satisfied with being the passenger on the DNA bus....we need to take the wheel. We cannot wait to evolve wings through mutation so we build planes to fly. We are becoming and transforming into the reflection of our most inspirational dreams and through that creation embody our darkest nightmares.
YesI believe our ingenuity and novelty continue to expand at an alarming rate. This is troublesome. It appears the rate of technological evolution is greatly surpassing the evolution of societal morality and ethics. We pay little mind to the development of the philosophical tools necessary to wield these powerfully transforming manipulations of matter. Is this the test that all intelligent beings must face in the universe? Perhaps.
But my challenge to herand to you my dear journal readers is thisis technology unnatural? I offer up that it IS natural and fully part of nature.
Why? Because we as human beings are a pure creation of nature. We are simply animals that mother nature has imparted with a large brainpan and neural connections that enable us to transform the world around us with greater dexterity and speed than any other animal on the planet. We are natural and therefore, by proxy, what we create is natural. Our creations whether they are biological children or technological inspiration are the product of our hands, yes. But they are all natural products springing from a natural source.
Whos to say all of this is not natures intent? Why cant all of this creation and destruction be a natural eventeven if it is at the hands of the human race? Humans are an extension of Nature and are naturalTechnology is an extension of Humanstherefore technology is an extension of Nature and also is natural.
Convince me to the contrary if you can.
and now some definitions for you scholars. Its not enough, however, to quote Webster.anyone can find a definition saying, Not created by the hand of Man. We are not sheep on SG. You gotta back it up with logic
(n.) The existing system of things; the world of matter, or of matter and mind; the creation; the universe.
(n.) The personified sum and order of causes and effects; the powers which produce existing phenomena, whether in the total or in detail; the agencies which carry on the processes of creation or of being
(n.) The established or regular course of things; usual order of events; connection of cause and effect.
(n.) Conformity to that which is natural, as distinguished from that which is artifical, or forced, or remote from actual experience.
Gotta go now...got a busy week ahead....
P.S. - I've already thought of an argument to the contrary of my position....I'm gonna keep this to myself however to see if anyone else comes up with it...
...I know I suck.... VIEW 17 of 17 COMMENTS
Then I biked to A's loft and watched some of the Fight Club boys beat the shit out of each other while I did a pretty intensive yoga work out.... and you guessed it-Push Ups!!!! I did 35 and then 15. Still not as good as you, but up there none the less. I will beat you the next time we meet. I promise.
After everyone got their rocks off working out, I took your advice and spoke to A about what you and I discussed. I ate some pride, and was a very supportive and empathetic partner. I even made him do his homework while I walked the dog.
There was salads and garlic bread for dinner, and hookha smoking, and then something amazing happened...... I think you can probably guess.
Let's just say that Miss C here had one big O.
ha ha ha ha. I feel like I should be thanking you!
So, um, are you going out to dinner with KT and Clare on Friday night? Looks like I'll see you out too them, though I'm going to keep it pretty early (I've got client's beginning at 9:15 Saturday morning).
And then Saturday night, Music and Moives with my favorite SG! I may even show you a few yoga basics early in the evening, b/c I'm dragging you to class next week.
peace and love