The question of whether advances in technology empower humankind or weaken it from a sociological perspective has become particularly complicated after the Industrial Revolution. Since the latter not only cemented the role of technology in people’s daily and workplace routine but also reinstated the status quo relationships between social classes, it can also be seen as the force for promoting progress. The postulates of Darwinism, while being quite sensible., appear to skew the social relationships significantly when applied without regard for the needs of those that have been wronged by the dominant class and, thus, placed in a disadvantaged position (Chung 43). In other words, minority groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, people from underserviced and impoverished communities, and other marginalized groups have been suffering from the outcomes of the Darwinist ideas implemented with no concern for those in need.
In addition, technology has shaped the current perception of human beings. Nowadays, a human would be defined not only as a species of Homo sapiens but also as the dominant species on the planet. Moreover, humankind should also be defined according to the impact that it produces. Therefore, the ability to work and create innovations should be seen as the defining characteristic of a human being. In this context, the influence of conservativism on the modern global community could be interpreted as the power that has a moderating effect and does not allow going too far in the application of technological innovations to the point where they could conflict with the existing ethics. In turn, liberalism, along with the Industrial Revolution, has spurred the development of humankind, adding the idea of innovativeness to the definition of a human being (Chung 44). Finally, nationalism has defined the sense of identity and led to the exploration of how an individual can contribute to the state and the community’s well-being, which has led to innovative solutions.
Thus, it is important to note that, at their core, technological innovations are only tools that can be used for bettering the lives of people or for promoting a hurtful agenda. Moreover, since technology can be utilized in more ways than one, it has contributed both to the evolution of social relationships by improving the quality of life and simultaneously aggravated them by reinforcing the social hierarchy.
Work Cited
Chung, Paul S. Critical Theory and Political Theology: The Aftermath of the Enlightenment. Springer, 2019.