3. William Nelson Joy
He argued that robotic, genetic engineering, and
nanotechnology pose much greater threats than
technological developments that have come before.
He was also concerned that computers will eventually
become more intelligent than humans, thus societies
into dystopian visions, such as robot rebellions.
4. The 21st Century Powerful Technology:
1. GENETIC ENGINEERING
2. NANOTECHNOLOGY
3. ROBOTICS
5. Genetic Engineering
The study of heredity and the variation of inherited
characteristics.
Genetic engineering aims to modify the genes to
enhance the capabilities of the organism beyond
what is normal.
6. Arguments Against Genetic
Engineering:
Genetic engineering is against the natural or
supernatural order. It is against what God or nature
intended to tinker with this genetic code, not to bring it
up to normal process but to create new kinds of being.
Genetic engineering is dehumanizing because It will
create nonhuman, allienated creatures.
Genetic engineered creatures will suffer from
obsolescence.
7. Nanotechnology
is the manipulation of matter on a near-atomic scale
to produce new structures, materials and devices. The
technology promises scientific advancement in many
sectors such as medicine, consumer products, energy,
materials and manufacturing.
8. Pros of Nanotechnology:
Nanotechnology will also open up new methods of
generating and staring energy. Quantum dots, for example,
are tiny light producing cells that could be used for
Illumination or for purposes such as display screens.
Nanotechnology has the potential to bring major advances in
medicine. Nanobots could be sent into a patients arteries to
clear away blockages.
Surgeries could become much foster and more accurate.
Injuries could be repaired cell-by-cell it may even become
possible to heal genetic conditions by fixing the damaged
genes.
9. Cons of Nanotechnology:
Negative effects on the environment as potential new
toxins and pollutants may be created by
nanotechnology.
Changes in manufacturing processes brought about
by nanotechnology may result in job losses.
Nanotechnology roses the possibility of microscopic
recording devices, which would be virtually
undetectable. Atomic weapons would be easier to
10. Robotics
Deals with the design construction operation and
use of robots, as well it computer system for their
control, sensory feedback and information
processing.
Science fiction author Isaac Asimov is given credit
for being the first person to use the term in the
1940s by Oxford English Dictionary.
11. Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics:
Robots must never harm human beings.
Robots must follow instructions from humans
without violating rule.
Robots must protect themselves without violating the
other rules.
12. Bill Joy also voiced out his apprehension about the rapid
increase of computer power. He was also concerned that
computers will eventually become more intelligent than
humans, thus ushering societies into dystopian visions,
such as robot rebellions.
To illuminate his concern, Joy drew from Theodore
Kaczynski’s book, Unabomber Manifesto about
unintended consequences of design and use of
technology related to Murphy’s Law:
“Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”
13. Kaczynski argued the following:
over reliance to antibiotic led to great paradox of emerging-
antibiotic resistant strains of dangerous bacteria.
-DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) to combat malarial
mosquitoes only give rise to malarial parasites with multi drug
resistant genes.
14. Joy’s arguments receives both criticisms and shared concerns.
Critics dismissed Joy’s article for deliberately presenting
information in imprecise manner that obscure larger picture
or state of things.
John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid (2001) wrote an article in
response to Bill Joy and the Doom-and-Gloom
technofuturists criticized Joy’s failure to consider social
factors and only see one part of the larger picture.
Others accused Joy as neo-Luddite
