This article explores the impact of technological advances on human happiness. It examines both positive and negative consequences, and argues that we should reflect on the political, social, and environmental impacts of technology on our society.
All humans seek happiness and ultimately live for it, but it is questionable whether we always make choices that bring us happiness. The development of science and technology is an example of this. If you ask the older generation if they are happier today with the conveniences brought by the advancement of science and technology than they were in the past, most of them will say no. This is evidenced by the fact that South Korea has experienced economic growth in tandem with the development of science and technology over the past 20 years, with per capita income increasing tenfold and health conditions improving significantly through medical technology and new drug development, yet the country still ranks 102nd in the world in terms of happiness. Despite enjoying a more convenient and wealthy life due to the development of science and technology, we are not happier. As such, it is necessary to reflect on why the development of science and technology does not lead to human happiness. In order to determine the necessity of science and technology, we must first compare the positive and negative aspects of science and technology and its impact on human life, and then consider the political and social implications of science and technology.
Science and technology is simply the application of science to technology. Although ‘science’ and ‘technology’ are two very different concepts, they are often used interchangeably in modern times. Science refers to the laws of nature that humans have discovered through their intellectual curiosity, while technology is the useful application of the results of this scientific inquiry to the real world. In other words, advances in science lead to new discoveries, which humans then apply to create technology. In the modern era, science and technology have developed at a tremendous pace, and while they have brought positive changes to society, they have also brought negative ones.
The development of transportation and communication is a prime example of this ambivalence. The development of transportation has eliminated the constraints of distance, facilitating communication between people and expanding the scope of human activity. Human activities could expand from a village to a country to the world and even the universe. The development of telecommunications was even more revolutionary than the development of transportation: it allowed us to transmit information at the speed of light, beyond human limits. Now you can talk to a friend on the other side of the world in a matter of seconds. This would not have been possible without the development of science and technology.
However, there are also negative aspects to the development of transportation and communication, and it’s worth rethinking whether they’re necessary. Transportation has been around for a long time, but wars have also become more intense because of it. For example, the Japanese invasion wouldn’t have been possible without ships. In modern times, the development of transportation has led to negative consequences such as air pollution and traffic accidents.
Another example of the development of communication is the Internet. The internet is an “ocean of information” and is used in so many different fields that there is no place in the modern world that doesn’t use it. However, as technology becomes more complex, cybercrime is also on the rise. Recently, North Korean hackers hacked into the databases of South Korean financial institutions, paralyzing their operations, and there have also been cases of celebrity suicides by abusers who took advantage of the anonymity of the internet. The development of transportation and communication technologies has greatly influenced and enriched modern life, but it has also created new and unprecedented problems.
Medical advances are also a result of science and technology. Thanks to advances in biotechnology, many diseases that were once incurable and incurable are now curable. This has greatly contributed to the increase in the average human life expectancy, leading to the term “human evolution”. One of the most exciting developments in the field of medicine is embryonic stem cells, which are pluripotent cells that have the ability to create human organs. While this technology has the potential to cure incurable diseases, it also raises ethical questions about human cloning and the value of human dignity. This issue has led to great debate, especially between the medical and religious communities. In the modern world, advances in science and technology are not just about making life more convenient for humans, but also about resolving complex conflicts of interest.
Resources are essential for the development of science and technology. If you look around you, you can see that everything is made from natural raw materials. Since the Industrial Revolution, underground resources have been heavily utilized for energy, and forests have been heavily deforested for development. As a result, carbon gas emissions have increased while the forests that mitigate them have decreased. This has led to the global problem of global warming due to the greenhouse effect of carbon gases, and has caused damage in countries not directly related to natural development. One example is the island of Tuvalu. Global warming is causing glaciers to melt and sea levels to rise, threatening to sink the entire island into the ocean. This story illustrates the negative impact of technology on humans. The problem is particularly acute because it is not the industrialized nations that have had the greatest impact on global warming, but the less developed countries.
As you can see, there are two sides to science and technology. There are many things that benefit us, but there are also many side effects. So, should we accept all of these side effects in order to advance science and technology? Are the negative aspects of science and technology worth it? Is there an inevitable reason for constant change and development despite the negative aspects? The development of science and technology cannot be viewed simply as a matter of increasing human convenience, but we must also consider its political and social roles. North Korea’s recent armed provocations have posed a threat to the international community, and this can be seen as a side effect of the development of missiles and nuclear weapons that have resulted from the advancement of science and technology. The negative impact of science and technology on political and social issues that should be resolved through dialog and consensus has led to life-and-death issues.
In addition, the development of science and technology has created a gap between the rich and the poor and has led to social phenomena such as materialism. As a result, the incidence of various crimes has increased significantly, as people are willing to do anything if they can make money.
South Korea has also undergone major social changes. The development of science and technology causes social change. The concentration of the population in the metropolitan area has prevented the balanced development of rural and urban areas, and the family system has changed from large extended families to small nuclear families, and the problem of supporting the elderly has emerged as a social issue. In Korea, in particular, the rapid development of nuclear familyization and the Internet has led to a social phenomenon where individualism is spreading rapidly and trust between people is weakening. The development of the Internet has also affected interpersonal relationships. It is now natural to communicate more on cell phones and online chats, and some people have problems communicating when they meet in person.
These examples may make you think that technological advances may be hindering human happiness. However, this is not the case. As the international community is increasingly entering a competitive society, and the competitiveness of a country is determined by its level of science and technology, the development of science and technology is even more inevitable. In a competitive society, individuals try to improve their competitiveness by acquiring skills that others cannot, and countries strive to develop technology to gain an advantage over other countries.
In addition, the development of science and technology occurs not only in competitive societies, but also as a natural outcome of humanity’s search for a way forward. Humans have an inherent desire to constantly challenge and explore, even when faced with limitations. No matter how happy we are, if things always stay the same without progress, some people will get bored, and some of those people will drive progress. However, reckless development without considering the side effects will cause problems.
In this way, the development of science and technology is as instinctive and natural as human evolution, and it cannot be stopped. What’s important is to make sure that it doesn’t get abused and cause environmental degradation or social or political problems. If we focus only on progress and ignore the problems that come with it, technology can become a poison to human happiness. However, if we look around us to solve problems and work through compromise and consensus, science and technology can be an asset that enriches human life.
