(A) How does technology influence people for good or ill?

Summarized Answer:
Some people may be tempted to say that technology is all good or evil, but that does not take into account the complex way in which tools affect us.

Like a shovel, technology in general does work on the environment and user. A shovel may move dirt, but it also creates callouses with continued use. The principle is true for virtual technology: Twitter can communicate short thoughts around the globe and it also trains the user to express thoughts within 160 characters.

Hence, technology affects us in two ways: (1) effects on the environment and (2) relevant effects on the user. Both factors need to be considered in deciding whether it is prudent or moral to use technology in a particular way.


Definitions and Details:

By environment, I mean to include any external effects of the technology, not limited to "environmental" effects. By user, I mean anyone controlling or interacting with that technology.

(1) Tools expand our abilities, which can be used for good or evil. Autonomous cars would be great for handling multiple asynchronous commuter drop offs and pickups. But, could an autonomous car be modified to remotely commit homicides? Perhaps. And so our capacity for good and evil increases. The same can be said about past technological advances: social media and websites have allow people greater access to the Good News as well as dangerous and evil content.

(2) Tools also change their users, either to improve or degrade one's abilities, morals, and person. For instance, personalied websites (Facebook) may lead people to expect the world to revolve around their tastes and interests, but this egotism degrades the human. People were made for relationships, arguably a relationship with their Creator, and egotism corrupts the virtues that grow that relationship. The pont is that people adapt to their tools, and the adaptation is not necessarily postive for the functiong and virtue of the user.

For more information, read From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology by John Dyer.

Intro -- Will machines replace humans?

The day before last I entered my apartment to my roommate watching an informative TV program about artificial intelligence. The show host was seeking to replace himself virtually. And, he was largely successful. Admittedly, his virtual self performed noticeably worse than his real self in some significant areas, but machines could somewhat perform most all of his everyday tasks. He tested his virtual presence as a screen, a virtual bio that a computer generated, a self-driving car, and a virtual chatbot to answer all questions as if it were him. I think most viewers would be left with more than a few significant questions.

(1) How can humans add economic value if computers can process information as well and more cheaply as some humans?
(2) How can we prepare?
(3) Will machines take over the human race?
(4) How soon will self-driving cars be on the market?
As an engineer, I found the show transfixing.

As a follower of Christ, a new set of questions arose:
(A) How does technology influence people for good or ill?
(B) Are there any warnings?
(C) Can technology be used to please the Lord? How? This question is central, because I owe him all. The Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer took on my death sentence and I live in his Spirit's divine life.
(D) Finally, how does our identity change with technology and is there a theological or philosophical basis for this change?

I'm convinced that with God's grace we can gain insight into these questions using biblical truths, wisdom, and cultural analysis. Join me in my next few posts as we reason together about the nature of technology and how machines can–and cannot–replace humans within your lifetime.  

-- Daniel