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“Crunchy” Moms and Technology
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posted Oct 4, 2018 9:05 PM Subscribe
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines progress as “a forward or onward movement.” It also defines progress as “gradual betterment” (Merriam-Webster n.d.). According to Thomas Jefferson, it is; he states that “science is progressive” (Marx 1987). The discussion questions refer to technology; but, in a lot of ways technology and science is interchangeable. Through science, we come to learn how things work and then we apply that learned knowledge to create and advance technology. So when you apply Jefferson’s thoughts and ideas at face value, then one can assume that technology equals progress. Through the advance of science, we have extended the human lifespan, healed people from previously un-curable disease, and create life outside of the womb. We have also created assault weapons with high capacity magazines, nuclear weapons, and biological weapons with science.
Karl Marx believed that technology is the primary influence on human social relations and organizational structures (Audiopedia 2016). This could explain why people use social media to separate their selves into different categories versus coming together. For example, there are moms that call their selves “crunchy.” “Crunchy” moms are organic moms. They breastfeed, cloth diaper, baby wear, only use homeopathic remedies, and in most cases are anti-vax. They are the same people that utilize smart devices, spend time on social media, and in the same breath rage against technology. Does that make a person a hypocrite or just short-sighted? By choosing to avoid scientific interventions, they could introduce the same risk for disease as the early generation of farmers. (Diamond 1987).
Our smart devices make it easier to share ideas and gain knowledge from outside sources or simplify our lives; but at the same time, they make it easier to forget the humanity of people. We forget that the people that we criticize on social media have feelings as we share stories of people at their low points. Is that progress?
Works Cited
2016. What is technological determinism? What does technological determinism mean? Performed by Audiopedia.
Diamond, Jared. 1987. “The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human race.” Discover Magazine, May 02: 1-5. http://discovermagazine.com/1987/may/02-the-worst-mistake-in-the-history-of-the-human-race.
Marx, Leo. 1987. “Does improved technology mean progress? Understanding the historical distinction between two contradictory concepts of progress helps explain the current disenchantment with technology.” Technology Reviews 32+. Accessed Oct 3, 2018. http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.umuc.edu/apps/doc/A4646419/CDB?u=umd_umuc&sid=CDB&xid=a3bb151a.
Merriam-Webster. n.d. progress. Accessed 10 02, 2018. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progress.
