The progress of technology is the regression of humanity?

In the conditions of technological progress, many life processes are automated, which, on the one hand, makes it easier for a person to perform various vital functions, but on the other hand, can lead to the process of degradation of his physical, mental, psycho-emotional and creative capabilities.

Technology and its components

As is known from information sources, technology existed together with man throughout the entire length of his evolutionary path. Technology, as the result of a combination of intelligent mental activity and practical application, is one of the distinguishing features of humans from animals. Let's try to define this phenomenon:

Technology is a set (system) of measures to improve life processes, as well as auxiliary tools for this, which primarily includes improving quality and automation.

Auxiliary tools are tools - these are any things (objects) that are used to perform actions in order to achieve the desired effect, which has a positive effect on satisfying needs.

Quality is a measure of performance that reflects the ability to satisfy human needs, and includes properties such as durability, environmental friendliness, safety, convenience, and so on.

Automation

How does the automation process work ? Let's try to look at an example:

The child first gradually masters the process of moving his body in space, mastering the very method of crawling on a surface, and then moving on his feet. He focuses on this process and internalizes every part of it. The speed and ease of actions increases with increasing repetitions, until they become spontaneous, automatic.

All processes start from manual mode and move to automatic.

From this the following concept should be highlighted:

Automation is the acceleration, facilitation and independence of any ongoing action or process, as well as its transition from manual mode.

We can distinguish conditional degrees of automation in relation to technological progress, based on what is already available:

Manual processes (low automation) – Mechanized processes (medium automation) - Electronized processes (high degree of automation).

Electronized or electronic processes are based on the movement of electrons (electric current) and involve a reduction in mechanical action and, accordingly, physical effort. They, in turn, consist of semi-automated and automated ones.

What components does each degree of automation include?

Manual processes include hand tools (without mechanisms and without electronics, for example: pens, brushes, notebooks, and so on).

Mechanized processes represent products of progress that involve the presence of mechanisms (include levers and operate on mechanical energy, for example: mechanical watches, typewriters)

Semi-automated electronic processes include equipment with elements such as buttons, touch panels, that is, there is still no complete elimination of mechanical influence, which reduces physical effort.

Automated electronic processes involve the absence of mechanical input and further minimization of physical effort. They include methods of performing actions of various types such as voice input and artificial intelligence (neural networks).

Progress

Thanks to new technologies and progress in the form of technology, machines and devices, people automate life processes even more. Automation is one of the main components of progress. What is progress?

Progress is a set of actions aimed at increasing efficiency and improving any aspect of human life.

Technological progress is a complex or system of actions that involves improving technology. It turns out that technological progress is the improvement of the improvement system or, if we remove repetition, the improvement of the improvement system.

If we direct progress in the opposite direction, what will happen in the end?

Such actions will result in regression - these are actions that lead to a decrease in efficiency and improvement of any area of ​​human activity. Regression means the loss of technology or a complete abandonment of the improvement system, which leads to the loss of knowledge, skills and an animal-like way of life.

With the concept of regression, it is now more or less clear that this is a kind of negative progress , but is progress itself so flawless? In particular, which concerns the technology sector? Perhaps technological progress has its downsides? So-called “pitfalls”? How can unevenly distributed and rapid automation of processes lead to regression of individuals and society?

The uneven distribution of a particular force leads to a displacement (skew) towards one of the supporting sides, on which the force is expressed by an excess of concentration. This phenomenon can be called imbalance . But what does it mean to shift power towards technological progress, which is perhaps faster than the understanding of it?

Progress , as an instrument of improvement, first works for a person and brings him benefit, but as a result of complete identification of himself with the result, they change places and the person begins to work for the artificial product of his own labor, merging with it.

Since we consider such a phenomenon as imbalance in relation to technological progress, applying it to human society, then perhaps a new concept should be introduced taking this into account? And it would be worth taking into account the science that studies man as a whole. Such a science is anthropology .

Anthropological imbalance in the system of progress and technology

This is a rather long concept, let’s shorten it a little to formulate the definition:

Anthropoprogressive imbalance is the gradual merging of a person with the product of technology and technological progress, as a result of its unevenly rapid implementation and unbalanced use.

Are there any examples of this kind of “displacement” ?

Well, you can open popular science fiction and there is already such a genre as “cyberpunk” , which assumes the presence of the following elements:

• complete or partial merging of man and machine (implantation of artificial automatic devices - artificial organs, chips, prostheses and the like),
• formation of a habitat according to needs (availability of production facilities for this type of equipment, as well as an artificial environment)
• low standard of living, despite high technology, and so on.

Let's move from science fiction to real scientific research , which already reflects a progressive imbalance, the results of some of them were partially discussed in the previous article “ The Hommo Immersus Phenomenon ”. But what happens if the power shift (imbalance) continues and only increases? What will be the consequences of further directing forces towards displacement? What will happen to man and society, the environment?

Mr. V § Universe of Meanings