Genetics,
Nanotechnology and Robotics
The
magnificent yet human mind of Bill Joy explores the innovations in genetics,
nanotechnology and robotics. Mr. Joy
eloquently explains ideas and terms that would normally baffle the common mind.
But his style of writing and relating ideas and thoughts makes his concerns
regarding these three great components of technology and how they can affect
human existence.
Genetics
have already surpassed the common person’s knowledge and scope of imagination
in its ever-rising applications and abilities. Bill Joy explains that his
greatest concern regarding genetics is that it “promises
to revolutionize agriculture by increasing crop yields while reducing the use
of pesticides; to create tens of thousands of novel species of bacteria,
plants, viruses, and animals; to replace reproduction, or supplement it, with
cloning; to create cures for many diseases, increasing our life span and our
quality of life; and much, much more.” The problem is pointed out, however,
that the military and offensive applications are almost easier and more easily
manipulated than some of the peaceful applications for genetic research. Mr.
Joy’s greatest concern regarding genetic technologies is “that it gives the
power - whether militarily, accidentally, or in a deliberate terrorist act - to
create a White Plague.” HE continues to propose that much of this technology
must be monitored, but that monitoring would be most successful in an honors
type system. Unlike atomic energy and where testing was evident, breakthroughs
in genetics can be hidden and remain private until a malevolent source chose to
act out some malicious plan.
Nanotechnology has the same negative
aspects toward its ability to be monitored. Once again, Joy points out that
with nanotechnology “it is far easier to create destructive uses for
nanotechnology than constructive ones.” Joy expresses again his concern that
with the benefits of nanotechnology we also face a risk, “the risk that we
might destroy the biosphere on which all life depends.”
Mr. Joy’s concerns about robotics
and their emerging skills, applications and popularity reveal that the
inevitability of robotics in our future must be addressed. Joy articulated that
robots eventually will be produced that will perform duties that will not
require human intervention at all. And then not long after that these robots
will be making decisions that are beyond the scope of human thinking and will
no longer need human beings to perform work. These innovations would deem the
human existence unnecessary.
Although many of Bill Joy’s concerns
seem ridiculous, they are all grounded on ideas and concepts that his vast mind
can comprehend and imagine. If his mind can imagine these fears, only an
arrogant ego would brush these concerns aside as if they were merely an
annoying inconvenience that is getting in the way of progress. I believe that
his fears are most definitely justified, simply because they come from the mind
of someone vastly more imaginative and ingenious than mine. I do not believe
that human beings can or should do anything. The wheels are already in motion
that will continue to their own end. We can no better slow or prevent the
future of genetics, nanotechnology and robotics than we would be able to produce
an end to the earth revolving around the sun on its axis. Such attempts would
be futile and a waste of human knowledge ingenuity and service.
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