Study Guide in GE-6 : Science, Technology, and Society Module No.

Module No.9

Why The Future Does Not Need Us

INTRODUCTION

In April of 2000, Bill Joy ignited a heated discussion concerning the role of technology in
modern society. His article in Wired magazine entitled “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us” became
the focus of a growing concern that technological advances are coming so quickly and are so
dramatic that they threaten the future existence of humanity itself. He argues that the 21 st century
technologies such as genetic engineering, nanotechnology and robotics (GNR) are a great threat
that they might wipe out the human race from the Earth.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

1. identified William Nelson Joy’s arguments as to why the future does not need us;
2. evaluated contemporary human experience in order to strengthen and enlighten the
human person functioning in society

LEARNING CONTENTS

Bill Joy (William Nelson Joy)

- the writer of the article “why future doesn’t need us”
- is an american computer engineer and venture capitalist
- born on november 8, 1954
- he argues that “ the most powerful technology is the 21st century technology, robotics,
gentic engineering, and nanotech that are threatening to make human lives
endangered species
Bill Joy was concerned with three 21st century technologies: genetic engineering,
nanotechnology, and robotics (GNR).
Genetic Engineering – it allows scientists to move desired genes from one plant or
animal into another.  Used in research and industry, genetic engineering has been applied
to the production of cancer therapies, brewing yeasts, genetically modified plants and
livestock, and more.
Nanotechnology - Nanotechnology refers to the branch of science and engineering
devoted to designing, producing, and using structures, devices, and systems by
manipulating atoms and molecules at nanoscale.
Robotics - Robotics is a branch of engineering that involves the conception, design,
manufacture and operation of robots. The objective of the robotics field is to create
intelligent machines that can assist humans in a variety of ways.
He recognized the appeal of the developments of these new technologies and the promise that
they bring humanity. However, though the advantages of these technologies are undeniable, the
dangers they present and issues that they raise is also very concerning and alarming. They raise
moral or ethical issues, safety concerns, and they might be used to destroy humanity.

Theodore (Ted) Kaczynski

He was known as the "Unabomber," an American mathematician and anarchist who
carried out a bombing campaign targeting individuals involved in modern technology from 1978 to

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Study Guide in GE-6 : Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 9

1995. He believed that modern technology was responsible for the decline of human freedom and
dignity, and that it posed a threat to human survival.
In his manifesto entitled "Industrial Society and Its Future," Kaczynski argued that the
industrial-technological system, which he saw as the root of modern technology, was inherently
oppressive and destructive.He also believed that the relentless pursuit of technological progress
would ultimately lead to the destruction of the natural world and the dehumanization of individuals.
Kaczynski's work was used to illustrate the potential dangers of intelligent machines and
their impact on humanity. The argument being made is that if intelligent machines become so
advanced that they can eliminate the need for human labor, there are two possibilities: either
we allow these machines to make decisions for us, or we retain control over them.
If we allow the machines to make decisions for us, we risk losing control over our lives and
surrendering our autonomy to artificial intelligence. On the other hand, if we retain control, we
may become so dependent on the machines that we lose our sense of purpose and meaning in
life.
Ultimately, the fear is that intelligent machines will lead to the ending of humanity and the loss of
the very essence of what it means to be human.

BILL JOY
 Asserted that Biological species will lose against competition with new technologies.
 New technology will take over.
 He asserted that e have not learned the lessons of the past, citing the creation and the use
of the atomic bomb and its consequences as an example.
 He was worried that we could be in the same path, if not worse.
 He warned of an impending arms race not against enemies that threaten our civilization
but against our wants and desires.
Impractical/Unrealistic Solutions:
 Leaving the planet and exploring other possible places to inhabit.
 Building shield to ward off dangerous technologies.
 Can create a utopian society where all human needs are met without any effort or struggle
on our part, making our presence on Earth unnecessary.
 Genetically engineer humans to be perfect, with no illnesses or negative traits, making our
current imperfect existence obsolete.
 Create a highly advanced AI system that can solve all of humanity's problems while
ensuring that humans no longer have a role to play.
 All voluntarily die out as a species, leaving the Earth to flourish without our intervention.
 Create a parallel universe where humans do not exist, allowing us to continue with our
current lifestyle and habits without affecting the future of the universe that doesn't need us.
However, these solutions are impractical, unrealistic and pose ethical issues that are against
human values, therefore, they are not advisable. Theodore Kaczynski said that "seeking
knowledge and pursuit of our dreams is good, if it will lead to danger, we should think of restricting
ourselves and re-examine our views." He referenced the Dalai Lama's principle that "it is neither
material things nor the gain of knowledge that will make us happy. He remained hopeful that the
discussion of these issues and our capacity to care will help us solve these issues.

William Nelson Joy

In April 2000, William Nelson Joy, an American computer scientist and chief scientist of Sun
Microsystems, wrote an article for Wired Magazine entitled Why the future doesn't needs us? In
his article, Joy warned against the rapid rise of new technologies. He explained that the 21st
century technologies - genetics, nanotechnology, and robotic (GNR) are becoming very powerful
that they can potentially bring about new classes of accidents, threats, and abuse. He further
warned that these dangers are even more pressing because they do not require large facilities or
even rare raw materials, knowledge alone will make them potentially harmful to humans.
 Nanobots - have the ability to replicate which could get out of control. Humans over
dependence on machines - human race would be at the mercy of machines.

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Study Guide in GE-6 : Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 9

 Computer Power - usher societies to dystopian visions (dehumanize, fearful lives) - robot
rebellions

CRITICISMS ON JOY’S VIEWS

However, some have shown some crtiticisms on Joy’s views. In the article entitled A
Response to Bill Joy and the Doom-and-Gloom Technofuturists by John Seely Brown and Paul
Duguid, they argued that although new technologies needed to be contemplated thoroughly,
technology and social systems shape each other and that social systems have the capacity to
direct these new technologies.
For example, genetic engineering, once regarded to be unstoppable in its development,
had some issues because society has seen its potential threats. Nanotechnology, on the other
hand, has not been even been fully developed to pose any threat. Even robots, according to them,
cannot make decisions the same way that humans can in their present state. Developments and
advances in robotics, they argued, might not necessarily mean that they will lead to a state that is
similar to humans.
Society may be able to plan ahead and respond to issues that new technologies pose.
They basically argued that the extension of ideas made by Joy regarding the possible events that
might happen because of these technologies is too great a leap. Before getting to a point of
danger, there will be actions that society will take to prevent arriving at these grim destinations.

CONCLUSION

Bill Joy, the author of the article “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us?”, discussed about how
advance technology could affect the human race. His views about the rapid progress of technology,
specifically GNR technologies, embody a negative relation between humanity and technologies.
Critics of Joy believed that Joy showed only one part of the bigger picture. In this case it is
pre-eminently necessary that the scientific community, governments, and businesses engage in a
discussion to determine the safeguards of humans against the potential dangers of science and
technology.

REFERENCES

https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/pangasinan-state-university/bachelor-of-science-in-
information-technology/module-9-sts-why-the-future-doesnt-need-us/21135033
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/pangasinan-state-university/science-technology-and-
society/sg-9-sts/43753596
https://g.co/kgs/bHaBgG
https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/mater-dei-college/social-psychology/content-9-sts/
11034669
https://www.wired.com/2000/04/joy-2/

Prepared By: Group 2

CONNIE ROSE B. ALAGON
YUL BRYNER BONIFACIO
KAREN JOY DE LUNA
SHAMELA JOY DELOS SANTOS
SAMANTHA C. GOMEZ
KYLA JOY C. NUEVO
MAGDALENA G. QUINTANS
JOVILYN S. VALDEZ

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Study Guide in GE-6 : Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 9

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 4