"Our modern Western society has made extraordinary strides in transportation, energy, communication, agriculture, and medicine. Yet despite our technological progress, social problems and personal difficulties seem more prevalent and more prominent than ever before."
Chapter 1 in your textbook provides three examples of paradoxes of progress and provides a point and counterpoint for each (pp. 1-2). Should you choose to select this assignment for course credit for your weekly blog comments, please complete the following:
- Describe, in your own words, what is meant by "paradox of progress."
- Briefly outline the three paradoxes of progress from your textbook.
- Provide your opinion on the topics of these paradoxes - do you tend to agree with the point or the counterpoint (or maybe a mixture of both)? Why? You can use personal examples in your explanation.
- Think of additional paradox of progress not outlined in the textbook. Provide a possible point and counterpoint of the paradox.
Your responses will ideally follow paragraph form as opposed to a listing of bullets for each of the sections listed above.
Remember, you should be writing these comments as if you were going to print them out and hand them in. Thus, spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. is important!
Lastly, there is no length requirement for this particular assignment. That being said though, I expect your responses to be well thought out and longer than a few sentences. As the semester progresses, you'll be expected to write longer responses as you'll have more information from class/your textbook to tie into your posts.
The “paradox of progress” is the introduction of new products and systems into our world that have positive and negative effects. There is a “Point” that explains the importance of new technology, or the increase of personal choices. The “Counterpoint” contradicts why these new elements are causing harm to humans. The harm can be unhealthy or the mind and body.
ReplyDeleteThe first paradox of progress explains how technology has improved our lives by saving time, yet it has decreased family time and developed poor sleep habits. The second paradox explains how humans have more choices than ever, yet this can cause stress and lead to unhappiness eventually. The third paradox of progress explains how technology has improved our agriculture, yet it has diminished natural resources on earth.
I agree with both the point and counterpoint in all three situations. In any advancement developed in the world, there will be positive and negative outcomes. For example, when looking at the paradox of progress about having too many choices it is like choosing which college to attend. It is great to have a big variety to choose from, yet it is overwhelming to figure out where you want to be in the future. There are both advantages and disadvantages for adjustments in life our lives.
I believe that the "paradox of progress" is explaining how there are new technology that has both positive and negative effects on people, society, and the environment. While there are useful and promising effects because of new technology, there are also counterparts that explain the harmful and unsatisfying effects of these technological advances.
ReplyDeleteThe first paradox explains that technology has saved us time through all of the devices that are available to people in society. The second paradox explains that the choices of products are endless due to all of the varieties of products that have been produced and created for our use. The third paradox explains that through technology, we have attained the ability to control our surroundings and objects such as the agricultural or medical aspects.
For the first paradox I agree with both the point and counterpoint because, as humans, we like to be able to get tasks done quickly and efficiently but this creates the problem of having more tasks to do which then fill up our schedules. This then gives us the feeling of being busy and over-worked constantly. For the second paradox I find myself favoring the point because having an abundant variety of choices is more favorable over not having as much of a variety in life choices. It may be overwhelming but I don't think that having choices will have bad effects such as rumination and regret. At least not for every one. For the third paradox I agree with both the point and counterpoint because although we have come a long way with our technology which helps us agriculturally and medically, those strives have lead to damage in our environment due to the resources that our being used.
A paradox that I thought of was the use of texting. The point would be that texting has created more forms of communication for society that can be any time of day. The counterpart is that texting has created nonverbal communication that can cause misinterpretation and issues such as cyber bullying.
The “paradox of progress” is, as my classmates have already stated, the introduction of new products into society incurring both positive and negative effects. The positive effects show much promise for the advancement of technology and society, however the negatives show the downfalls of using these devices too much.
ReplyDeleteThe first paradox discusses the issue of time. The point was made that, although we have many new technological devices and advancements we are running shorter and shorter on time to use them, no matter how easy and quick they may be.
The second paradox speaks of the issue of choice. I’ve had this discussion in classes before and always find it an interesting riddle. Here in America, we are raised to believe in freedom of choice, in the idea that the more choice we have the better we are as a people. However, is there a point where there are too many choices? Is there really a difference between Candy Apple Red and Firetruck Red? An example from a previous class included the selection of ice cream flavors. A customer was asked to pick between two ice cream parlors, one parlor had three flavors, whereas the other had twelve. Naturally, in our society, the customer chose the parlor with more flavors. Once he went into that parlor however he was faced with severe indecision on which flavor to choose, whereupon entering the opposite parlor with the three choices he had no problems making his selection.
The third paradox discusses the issue of control. The point was made that more technology has given the people more access to control over their life and their world. Being such a materialistic society this is very important, I feel. However on the opposite end of that such advances have made way for industrial impacts such as global warming. Where I don’t think technology is the sole cause for global warming I understand the issue that is being brought up. Even though the society is advancing as a whole it is bringing with it severe side effects.
The counterpoints are all very strong, and I feel they are correct. However, for technology to advance and for society to thrive there must be a few bumps along the road of progress. I’m sure the first person to scribe an orator’s words was seen as rude for not watching the presentation, however now it’s seen as rude for something as small as not taking notes during a professor’s lecture. For progress to occur negatives must come about, thus bringing about greater positives.
I agree with Lauren about texting being a modern paradox. It provides a simpler, faster way of communicating by cutting out the social aspect of it. If I were to provide another example I might use e-readers. In 10 years or so I wonder how obsolete even our textbooks will be. Many people that have grown in this digital age have some problems with the simplest tasks in libraries, if the book or article isn’t on the computer than they can’t find the hard copy in the shelves. Nor do they understand the reference system.
To me, ‘paradox of progress’ means no matter how ‘advanced’ our world gets, we will always struggle with our psychological aspects. Also, these new creations are making more problems for people.
ReplyDeleteThe first paradox talks about how we neglect to appreciate how our new time saving electronics do in fact save us time. I think the problem is we don’t have our priorities straight. I believe I agree more with the point. I use my cell phone, computer, automobiles, etc. and still have enough time to spend with my family and friends, juggle school and work, other activities, and still have time for myself. I understand that people are busier with kids, work, and household chores, but these devices are not the cause of having less time, they are helping them.
The second paradox explains how the excessive amount of choices can lead to mental problems. I would have to agree with the counterpoint on this topic. I understand that more choices are great, but in my experience they led to depression. There are so many options and responsible choices you have to make as you grow up that sometimes it is too much handle. I was so overwhelmed, sad, and unhappy with the major choices that I had to make; consequently, I struggled with depression for you about two years.
The third paradox describes the advances in agriculture and medical technology; they can improve our food and save peoples organs. However, by doing so, they are slowing destroying our world. I am in the middle on this one. I love that fact that we can grow more food and help the people who suffer from medical problems. I dislike that fact that it is ruining the earth. I don’t know how else to say it other than that. I wish we could have it both ways without doing harm to the other.
I think that I would consider Facebook a paradox of progress. I mean that Facebook is meant to keep in touch with friends, tell people what you are doing, and posting pictures. However, Facebook is can also be a problem. People are posting pictures of you that maybe they shouldn't and if the wrong people see it you may be in trouble.
The paradox of progress describes how the use of technology has both a positive and negative effect on our society. These technologies are positive in the fact that it can help with everyday life, but can be negative with the way that people rely on these technological products.
ReplyDeleteThe first paradox in our textbook describes how technology is used to save time and get tasks done at a remarkable speed. The second paradox describes how there are multiple choices in our society. The third paradox describes how technology helps us to communication around the world to get resources but this also contributes to the diminishing of resources at a fast rate. I agree more with the counterpoint because although technology does have a positive effect on our society, there has been a great negative effect with how dependent we are on this technology.
Another modern paradox that comes to mind is the use of social media. This can be a productive way in keeping touch with one another and people from all around the world. This can also be negative by becoming a replacement for actual human contact, face to face. This can result in a loss of effective communication with one another.
A "Paradox of Progress," to my understanding, is our progress as a race that helps us survive, but also is limiting our longevity as a species.
ReplyDeleteThe first paradox, technology that saves times on tasks while believing that we do not have enough time. I agree with the point, because I think that modern technology has saved us great amounts of time in everyday tasks. I also believe that people have trouble disconnecting from their technology, bringing it home with them, keeping them from spending quality time with others.
The second paradox is life choices versus the consequences of those choices, having options versus too many options. I think that there shouldn't be so many options that you have to spend a great amount of time debating between salad dressings at the super markets, but I don't think that the options should be so stripped down that there is only one option. I believe there is a healthy balance that can be achieved.
The third paradox is our ability to shape the world versus the damage of shaping the world. I almost completely believe the point due to personal experience of growing up on a farm in the Midwest, although the counterpoints are very valid, but could be worked on with renewable energy sources. Without genetically modified crops, the ability to feed our country would be very difficult because the modification boosts yields by providing protection against insects and disease, while also making them more resistant to drought.
I believe modern telephones to be a paradox of progress. Modern phones allow people to instantly communicate across great distances. Alternatively, with phones, people are losing the ability to communicate with each other because they are so concentrated on their phone, on facebook or texting, tweeting, or emailing.
The paradox of progress explains how technology both positively and negatively effects society. Technology has become a controversial topic, as so many people depend on different aspects of advancing technology every day.
ReplyDeleteThe first paradox in our textbook describes how technology is used to save time and get every day tasks done even faster. For example, a group chat message via texting, letting a group of your friends know that dinner is at 8. I agree with this point. Technology definitely saves me time, and does not effect the time I spend with my family, friends, etc.
The second paradox describes how there are multiple choices for everything in our society. This can definitely lead to mental health concerns due to increased anxiety. I have experienced this first hand, and think it is more of a problem now, then it ever has been. I agree with the counter point on this paradox.
The third paradox describes how technology has advanced agriculture throughout the world, yet is diminishing our natural resources as we speak. I think that this has had an incredibly negative effect on our society as a whole, as we are basically destroying our planet, therefore I agree with the counter point.
A paradox of progress that came to my mind is deciding what to do after finishing undergrad. There is the option of continuing on with schooling, and getting your masters or doctorate degree in whatever is your specializing, then further pursuing your career. The counter point would be traveling, or trying to get a job related to the field in which you studied in your undergrad.