Proof of Learning, Week Four

This week has largely been one of research and writing. My project explored the ways that technology interacts with the environment, and whether or not it could be said that technology “loves biology.” This question was prompted by Kevin Kelly's lecture on the history of technology, where Kelly himself expressed that it does – provided we allow it.

My initial inclination is to agree with his provision. Clearly, technology is not an autonomous construct; it is a tool, to be utilized by humans. To what ends it is used depends on its wielder, not on an inherent property of the thing. The route I decided to go with this question, then, was to examine how technology is being used, past and present, and how that relates to biology. 

Past usage of technology, up until the present, has largely been one of destruction towards anything other than humans, and in cases of war, humans as well. Kelly himself cites the extinction of around 250 magafauna species at the hands of technology wielding early humans. Human development has also been a major force in tearing down existing ecosystems and pushing other animals out of their homes. Climate change, deforestation, and ocean acidification has lead to a great loss of biodiversity, and with it comes an imbalance in natural terrestrial cycles. The utilization of technology was largely geared towards the development of humanity without much regard towards the environment. 

Currently, more energy has been put into utilizing technology for both conservation and correcting past negatives of technology's usage. Fuel efficient and biofuel vehicles are set to lower the ecological footprint of humanity and restore balance to natural nutrient cycles. More effort has gone into utilizing plant and microbes in specialized locations, to combat emissions and waste. All of these efforts, and more, represent an inclination to set technology on the track of loving and preserving biology. I do wonder, though, if technology could have achieved its current, partial utilization for the good of the environment without first bringing about a good deal of destruction to it.