I am more inclined towards Ridley’s view as I think that Lundberg’s view is too one-sided and pessimiistic while Ridley’s view is more balance.
It is true that as Passage 2 (paragraph 8, Line 40) mentioned that many ‘are fed such a strong diet of news about how bad things are’, such as the possibility of biological warfare with the terrorists and the increasing level of unemployment of people who do not have the high end skills that many employers in a knowledge based economy are looking for. This is why people, with their increasing fear and insecurity about the unforeseen future, shifted all the balance to technology, as was the case for Lundberg from passage 1. He keeps pouring about the doom and gloom that technology will bring, like the eventual fate of Earth turning ‘into a Venusian hell’ (passage 1, paragraph 5, Line 42). Lundberg forgets that people enhance technology as it does bring about benefits. For example, the constant research on hydrogen fuels and other alternative cleaner fuels to fossil fuels are helping to ease the problem of global warming and its effects. Thus, we should not just dispute technology as something undesirable.
As Ridley has mentioned, ‘self knowledge about the causes of our behaviour will liberate people to make choices’. Technology enables us to better understand ourselves by making information just a click or a phone call away. Science explains phenomenon that have piqued human curiosity, allowing man to search for solutions to their problems.
The holocaust during the Second World War happened a result of the Germans being too gullible and accepting of Hitler’s claims that the Germans were superior to every other race. Hitler even claimed that it was Nature which dictated the survival of the superior race and the extermination of the inferior, and this is simply bad biology. Due to the people’s ignorance, the Jews were made to suffer a most tragic fate. Thus, I believe that science and technology, with continual advancement and when applied in the appropriate ways, will benefit people more as they will then be equipped with the knowledge to clear their misconceptions, empowering them to make better, more informed decisions.
In Singapore, I think technology has improved the quality of life in general. Indeed, Singaporeans are ‘healthier, wealthier and wiser than before’. (passage 2, line 45). From a small, newly independent nation which many initially doubted would thrive, Singapore has braved the storms these 41 years to blossom into a vibrant, global city, bustling with trade and boasting impressive economic growth records today. Technology has played a tremendous part in aiding Singapore in its rapid development and improving the quality of life of many Singaporeans. It has improved the efficiency of the labour force, with the incorporation of advanced devices such as video conferencing facilities and high tech machinery. It has also enabled the building of impressive infrastructure such as a reliable telecommunications network to attract the setting up of many multinational corporations. Without technology, Singapore would not have been able to progress so quickly into a business hub teeming with life and potential. It has made the lives of many Singaporeans more convenient and through the achievement of greater economic growth, has helped to boost the average household’s income significantly. Thus, I believe that it has improved the quality of life for a great many people.
