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From: netoprhm%ncsuvm.bitnet@RUTGERS.EDU (Hal)
Newsgroups: comp.society
Subject: Re: The Impact of Inventions
Message-ID: <2141@hplabsc.HP.COM>
Date: Tue, 30-Jun-87 14:21:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: hplabsc.2141
Posted: Tue Jun 30 14:21:17 1987
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Two diverging points:

A. Signifigant poets, philosophers....
The question was asked "Where are they now?"--The answer given was they
are all writing jingles. Actually, they are all writing rock music. A
few names: Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Jim Carroll. I am sure you can think
of others. Patti Smith predicted that Rock music would eventually be
seen as a legitimate art form, and I believe that day has arrived. Want
to here what tommorrow's leaders attitudes are? Listen to "indie" stuff.
And yes, people actually _do_ listen to the lyrics.
     
B. Social Impact vs. rationalism
The idea of doing a rational study on a proposed new technology's impact
on society is ludicrous. The decision to devise and implement new
technologies is never based on any sort a rational thought. Try
justifying nuclear weapons rationally. You eventually get to the point
where "They have it, we must better it." Now, does this solve any real
problems. No, it simply fills a _percieved need_, which is what
the implementation of technology is all about.
    Do we really need to go to Mars? No, but we want to. So, we eventually
will. The point I'm trying (obliquely) to make is that instead of
"impact studies" and other justifications draped in "rational thinking",
it's about time we (humankind) took a good long hard look at exactly
what it is we want to accomplish and why. Will this happen?  Probably
not. We are having too much fun with our toys to give them up.

Hal
NETOPRHM@NCSUVM.BITNET