Technology In Our Lives Essay, Research Paper
Technology nowadays constantly seems to seep its way into our daily
routines. Everything we do is somehow connected with technology,
whether it be working on a paper in the computer lab, taking the H bus
to class, or even eating dinner at Brower Commons.. Without technology,
life would be more difficult than it already is, knowledge would be
limited and more difficult to achieve. The task of technology is to
create a better, and easier living for ourselves and for the world;
it’s intentions are only positive, unless looked on in the subject
matter of destruction, warfare or terrorism. Biotechnology goes down
deeper than the computer chips and electronic devices that people think
about when discussing technology. Biotechnology deals with the
concoction of technology and life, which brings up various moral issues,
yet at the same time acts positively for our world. It has been
practiced by human society since the beginning of recorded history in
such activities as baking bread, brewing alcoholic beverages, or
breeding food crops or domestic animals. Biotechnology in the case of
Monsanto is a step forward in the field of technology, and a step
forward for us. Without technology, our nation would not be where it is
today, and I hope we continue to push technology to its outer limits, if
that is, those outer limits do actually exist. Like most technological
advancements and breakthroughs, problems arise depending on the
willingness and readiness of us humans to accept the new form of
technology.
Biotechnology can be broadly defined as: using living organisms or
their products for commercial use. The company Monsanto, specializes in
biotechnology both in the pharmaceutical and agricultural fields. The
article “Playing God in the Garden”, written by Michael Pollan discusses
the topic of biotechnology in the field of agriculture, and touches
greatly upon the New Leaf Superior, one of Monsanto’s agricultural
products which focuses on potato farmers. This New Leaf Superior
product is basically a super-form of a potato. This super potato was
genetically engineered by scientists in Monsanto’s St. Louis research
lab to automatically repel any Colorado Potato Beetle – a potato farmers
worst enemy. The intent of this New Leaf Superior is to assist farmers
in farming potatoes, and as Monsanto states on its website
(http://www.biotechknowledge.com/primer/newleaf.html), it is clearly
having an effect on farming. “[The New Leaf Superior] is more effective
against potato leaf roll virus than any insecticide program, and it also
prevents rotting and internal defects. As a result, it reduces
insecticide use by over 80 percent, increases processor throughput,
reduces inputs, protects yields and improves quality.”
I asked myself : “Why does Monsanto only allow farmers to grow one
generation if they are trying to help them out?” The answer took some
thought but I came to a conclusion after Pollan explained the “software
metaphor”. Monsanto acts like a computer software company, only that
the company does not revolve around a computer like a software company
does. The company revolves around life. This company releases
“software” which assists us in completing tasks, gaining knowledge, and
succeeding. Like all computer software companies, Monsanto includes a
“CD key”, so that reproduction and piracy would not be possible. This
“CD key” is a gene added to the plant by Monsanto’s scientists for
identification purpose. After all, Monsanto did discover the New Leaf
Superior, which obviously took a lot of research and development.
Those against technology and it’s advancement are most likely opposed
to biotechnology as well. Included in the Unabomber’s manifesto is his
stressed position on technology and biotechnology. “Search the
Unabomber Manifesto and you find the word ‘computer’ frequently used in
conjunction with ‘control’ and ‘technology.’ The serial bomber blames
technology, especially computers, for a vast variety of social ills: the
invasion of privacy, genetic engineering, and ‘environmental degradation
through excessive economic growth’” (Heim 27). It is clear to say that
the Unabomber would most likely be against the New Leaf Superior because
of the fact that it is genetically engineered. Yes obviously, the New
Leaf is genetically engineered, rendering it artificial, but there is no
real proven problem posed here. All of the problems with the New Leaf
come from theories and ideas, which were never proven to be true.
Pollan explains a telephone conversation with Andrew Kimbrell, the
director of the Center for Technology Assessment, explaining a fear that
the Unabomber most likely shares:
“‘Biological pollution will be the environmental nightmare of the 21st
century, ‘ he said when I reached him by phone. ‘This is not like
chemical pollution – an oil spill – that eventually disperses.
Biological pollution us an entirely different model, more like a
disease. Is Monsanto going to be held legally responsible when one of
its transgenes creates a superweed or resistant insect?’” (Pollan 4)
Yes, Monsanto will be and should be held responsible if this
happens, but my belief when touching upon technology is that we are
always superior to it.
A computer runs off of mathematical algorithms and binary code,
which are both fabrications of man, putting the computer on a lower
level than the programmer, as Heim describes, “The computer is a
subordinate device.”(Heim 33). Using the algorithms and binary code, a
programmer is able to create anything he/she wants to within the
boundaries of the computer. The same concept applies for biotechnology;
man being the programmer and nature being the computer.. “One way to
look at biotechnology is that it allows a larger portion of human
intelligence to be incorporated into the plant itself” (Pollan 3)
Biotechnology will always be subordinate to us because of the fact that
we are the ones behind it. Like seen in many science fiction movies,
when technology is able to expand itself on its own, is when we lose our
position above it. If a resistance does happen, and the beetles do
become resistant, Monsanto will be able to mend the problem, using the
same research and technology they used while developing the New Leaf. In
the world of computers, when a virus comes up, experts go to work
dissecting the code of the virus to understand what it exactly does to
the computer. The programmers then go on to make a counter program
which contains the code that will contradict the pattern of the virus,
thus mending the problem.
The term artificial comes into the picture when discussing the
potatoes that the New Leaf plants create. These potatoes are
artificial in the sense that their natural growth and makeup were tapped
into and modified by man. Many see this as a health problem and are
afraid to eat the them.
“Last summer, biotech food emerged as the most explosive environmental
issue in Europe. Protesters have destroyed dozens of field trials of
the very same ‘frankenplants’ (as they are sometimes called) that we
Americans are already serving for dinner, and throughout Europe the
public has demanded that biotech food be labeled in the market” (Pollan
1)
In fact the potatoes are as safe to eat as organic potatoes,
according to the FDA, which evaluated the nutrition and safety of the
New Leaf product a numerous amount of times. “Monsanto, for its part,
claims that it has thoroughly examined all the potential environmental
and health risks of its biotech plants, and points out that three
regulatory agencies – the U.S.D.A, the E.P.A. and the F.D.A. – have
signed off on its products” (Pollan 4) Obviously, these potatoes were
required to undergo numerous tests before they were open to consumers
and farmers for purchase, which I believe is a worthy endorsement that
the potatoes are safe to eat and grow. The new leaf potatoes fall into
the same category as the artificial communities discussed in paper #3.
An artificial, virtual community functions as a community, and delivers
a sense of community gratification to users, such like the New Leaf
Superior potato was developed by man, yet easily replaces an organic
potato.
Morality and ethics are also introduced when discussing the New Leaf
and biotechnology. Individuals believe that humans are not in the
position to meddle with nature, are not in the position to play god, yet
some in the past and present, including myself, place technology before
morality and ethics “Seventeenth century rationalists like Gottfried W.
Leibniz and Rene Descartes pushed computation and mathematical physics
far ahead of ethics and feelings. The Cartesian revolution in
philosophy put mathematical physics at the top of the list of priorities
while ethics became the incidental victim of skeptical reasoning.” (Heim
34) In Heim’s terms, Monsanto is the idealist, those opposed to
biotechnology, such as the Unabomber and the protesters in Europe are
the na ve realists, and I, myself would be an optimist.
I share the same view as Descartes and Leibniz, where technology
comes before ethics and moral issues. Yes, I do have moral principles
and I do think about them, but I believe that technology is essential to
the advancement of man now and in the future. I would place Heim, the
Unabomber, and those completely against technology in the category of
those who are not willing to accept and who oppose the fact that our
world is going through major technological advancement. The change is
quite evident, from the typical forms of communication to the new forms
such as fax, email, and chat. The typical forms of agricultural
development are now being moved in upon by technology. Like the
Internet and many other technological advancements, biotechnology is
being rejected by the whole. We need technology to learn more, to make
more happen. Biotechnology, such as the New Leaf and other forms of
genetic engineering aid greatly in the survival of the human race,
although it is not noticed now, it may be noticed in the future.
Technology is responsible for where our world is today. Knowledge is
power, and there is indeed, much knowledge through technology.
Technology is a powerful tool, which we have complete control over.