Technology is a tool not without consequence, something scientists don't understand but engineers do
@lunarised Seems climate scientists understand very well, but are ignored. Wonder why the focus on scientists and engineers, maybe you want to talk about some aspect i didn't get from the toot?
@lunarised Ah, more of a "can know" thing: engineers work with established technology, scientists also bring upon new technology. So it's not a failing of scientists, but the nature of things.
Yeah, that is another aspect, glad i asked.
@lunarised Hmm. With irresponsible use of new technology widespread, one could argue that nothing new should be made, since humanity is not mature enough to handle it. But that makes no sense as long as the immature entity has no mature entity to parent.
I think my point is it's a process that is inevitable
Physicist discovers something seemingly new but a bit useless
Chemist finds a niche use
Engineer builds something productive for society
Powers that be coerce engineers to build morally bad thing
It's unfortunately a thing where the only time you realize the danger in a technology, it's too late not to weaponise it
@lunarised What i had been holding back is the emphasis on the last line, but now that you brought it up... "powers that be" are more dangerous to us than any technology.
I think it becomes obvious with fossil fuel usage: people are often positive about adapting alternatives, but it is not something individuals can do well. A concentration of power is displaying its reluctance to do what is known to be necessary for humanitys survival. The technology would not have been a problem, had it been abandoned when the dangers became clear and alternatives were feasible.
I reckon that power is merely a multiplier for whatever tendencies exist in a person already. And is there any person who is 100% good?
(Not sure if this is true or not but decided to post anyway as a conversation starter)
Is it more likely to attract people the more evil those people are?
@Hyolobrika @lunarised I agree with the multiplication take. I also agree that people with problematic wishes (here called "evil" and "human nature") are attracted to power.
The real question that i see is how to keep that in check. What we do get is power keeping reason in check, which is not ideal.
