February question #1: What is Progress?
Henry David Thoreau's fears about
societal encroachment into the natural world seem to reflect the current
uncertainly regarding how much "progress" is too much.
Consider some of the most advanced technological
changes of our time: smart phones, drones, robotic technologies, electric
cars, alternative fuel sources. What would Thoreau have thought of them?
Be specific with your responses, especially since some of our most
advanced technological changes are "green."
I believe that Thoreau would have thought many of these modern technologies are just convenient illusions. When I say convenient illusions, I mean that these new technological advances just SEEM to be more convenient to use (since the last generation doesn't have it). Thoreau would say that smart phones, drones, or any kind of robotic technologies are just a nuisance to current society. Although he admits the benefits of technology, he focuses way more on the disadvantages. He would probably not even enjoy the green solutions like electric cars because they would just contribute to pollution by just making the cars in factories.
ReplyDeleteI agree, that many technologies are illusions in that they only make us think that we are getting closer to nature. For example, Thoreau would not be impressed by a scenic desktop and/or ambient sound recordings.
DeleteI completely agree with you Justin. People use technologies to replace personal interactions with others. By doing this they can never find who they truly are. Sometimes things come so easy through technologies that we don't have to work as hard, which inter-fears with our progression.
DeleteI think that Thoreau would have his opinions on modern technologies. I think that he would say technology advances are made to make our lives easier by providing more information, communication and entertainment in a faster way. But when Thoreau talks about how it is a disadvantages is when we abuse the technology that we have and rely on it more than we need to.
ReplyDeletei think you are right in a sense Cydney but i dont think Thoreau would se these technologies as advances to our lives but more so hinderances to our development as well rounded and in tune with nature individuals
DeleteI agree with Cyd's idea that Thoreau sees technology as a disadvantage once we overlook nature and rely on technology instead. However, I don't agree with the idea that Thoreau would support the use of technology for communication and entertainment because this would take away from nature and distract us from using nature as a source of inner release which is the main idea behind his philosophy.
DeleteI disagree, I don't think that Thoreau would even consider the benefits of technology. He would only consider the way technology destroys the environment.
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ReplyDeleteI think that Thoreau would be opposed to most modern technology since almost all of the most popular innovations take us away from nature. Due to Thoreau's views on people needing nature, I think that he would have enjoyed people spending more time exploring the natural world rather than wasting their time with technology that hurts the environment and hinders our abilities to find our own answers instead of googling them.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what Thoreau would think of blogs and how they contribute to education?
I agree that Thoreau would be opposed to modern technology. He would think that modern technology is taking us away from nature and disabling us from creating our own experiences with the world. Technology is a great distraction according to Thoreau.
DeleteI agree with Roman on people needing nature and modern day technology takes a way from out time with nature but I don't think they are wasting time using technology
DeleteI think that Thoreau believed that one progresses through intellectual growth and development rather than being distracted by modern technologies. Since he believed that people used other people's beliefs and life experiences they never get to develop their own points of views, making them brainwashed and not allowing the, to progress.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you as well Ali. Thoreau seemed to be really focused on life experiences, and due to all these technologies, he probably wouldn't appreciate all the distractions away from life. Although I don't know if it's necessarily brainwash, technology is a great distraction.
DeleteI believe that Thoreau would think that these modern technologies are distractions from connecting with nature. Thoreau wants people to create their own ideas and experience their own adventures instead of listening to others and using social media. This progress of modern technology would frustrate Thoreau because more and more people use social media and technology to formulate their ideas and beliefs instead of creating their own.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Thoreau would think that all of these new inventions are detrimental to our growth as people because they distract us from our surroundings and push us further away from formulating our own ideas. in fact smart phones and technology like this are exactly what Thoreau didn't want because they are easy access to other peoples thoughts and information and none of our own.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think that is very true. When I am around my phone, my computer, and all of the many other gadgets we all have to make life "more fun", I see how I fall in that auto mode where I am not even paying attention to what I am doing. it's almost like I am losing touch to myself, and I know that it is happening but I can't stop. When I spend the afternoon outside, reading a book, or with my dog I feel a lot more like myself if that makes any sense.
DeleteI think that Thoreau would have thought that these advances are taking away the simple pleasures we can get by doing all of the things technology does for us. I also think the meaning of the word "progress" may be different for us. When we think of progress today, speed and efficiency come to mind because that is the way our lifestyles are formed. For Thoreau, progress may have meant something different. For him, forming deeper connections with people and with yourself to become self aware may have been more important. In this case smart phones, drones, robotic technologies would take away the art of the progress to achieve these things.
ReplyDeleteAfter learning about Thoreau's ideas, thoughts and philosophy on technology and how it tends to interfere with our personal connections with nature, I think that Thoreau would see these new technological advancements in today's society only as a negative because it supports his idea that new technology can and will take away from human nature and act as a distraction. Adding on, although many of our new advancements are environmentally friendly and "green", I still think that Thoreau would be 100% against the idea because it's still taking away from our connections to nature, regardless of how much we try to make technology safe for our environment.
ReplyDeleteThoreau's views are completely anti-technology, and in what world would he be supportive of it. The main problem isn't technology though, its us. The basic human flaw of greed means that we will constantly continue to "grow" in our minds, while we are actually just disregarding the negatives of our progress and blatently destroying the world around us that gave us life. We're bitting the hands that feed us. Its elementary and disgusting but as we are now we have no other way to live.
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