Are Technologically Advanced Societies More Advanced - Essay Example

Are Technologically Advanced Societies More Advanced? First of Are Technologically Advanced Societies More Advanced? Answering the query actually depends on how a person interprets the word “advanced.” The term could actually mean advanced in thinking or advanced in values. This is to say that such word is susceptible to varying interpretations. In such case, it is contended that the advancement of a community should not be measured by the number of technologies that it has. Rather, it should be determined by considering the whole aspects of society.

It is not to be limited to the advantages that new technology has brought to the people. Stated otherwise, the definition of advancement should not be superficial but substantial. A substantial definition is one which involves the consideration of the people’s state of life. This is to say that, as of this moment, the determination of what constitutes progress should involve economic factors. A country’s economy actually reflects its growth and development. Also, in today’s world, the definition of the word progress is often associated to economic terms due to globalization.

Advancement and progress are two interchangeable terms. Both of them signify the growth and development of a society. In such case, either of the two words could actually be used to explain the topic of the essay. It is a contention that there is progress if the following factors are present: (1) all the members of the society are experiencing a high standard of living (2) there is full employment and (3) there is good governance. The three factors are actually essential in determining “progress.

” The first factor means that no member of the community is living below the poverty line. All of them have enough resources for their basic and non-basic needs. This is due to the fact that none are unemployed. All the members who are able to work have work. Both the first and second factors are achievable if there is good governance. This is the reason why the third factor is included. If there is good governance, the resources of the society are properly distributed and the skills of each of the members are effectively utilized.

The presence of technologies is not included as one of the factors due to the reason mentioned in the beginning. It is not a good analysis to say that a society is progressive because it has many technologies. In countries wherein the use and production of technologies are high, it could be expected that the first and second factors are complied with. Nevertheless, the third factor is doubtful to exist in some of these countries. Descartes believes that “only the growth of science allows for progress” (qtd.

in Schouls 110). Progress in this sense could be intellectual. It refers to the application of one’s intellect to enhance his or her way of life. As contended by Descartes, humans could only attain mastery through science (qtd. in Schouls 110; qtd. in Moyal 55). This is a logical finding since science actually involves the never-ending search for new ideas. In such case, if the people know the correct application of certain scientific principles, then, progress would surely be visible. Nevertheless, to reiterate, to determine progress involves the consideration of all aspects and not just one.

This is to say that humans’ intellectual capacity is not enough to determine progress. The determination of progress should not be focused on intellectual capacity alone but to the people’s state of life as a whole. This goes to say that using science to define progress is not enough to provide one a substantial and deep view of its constitutive elements. For Americans, progress is not focused on the use and production of technologies. Instead, they view progress in terms of discovering practical solutions to solve social problems.

America as the world’s strongest country is currently facing many social problems. They do not consider progress anymore in relation to economic growth and development since they are well-provided by their government. In this sense, one could realize that defining progress could sometimes be specific and social. The American country is a perfect example to prove this finding. Racism is actually one of the social problems in America aside from drug use and violence (“Social”). In this context, if the American people could observe that there is no more racial discrimination in their society, then, they could say that there is really progress.

Significantly, America has actually made racial diversity as one of its aims in the twenty-first century. It is aspiring to be a multicultural country. It seems that cultural issues are more important to Americans than being the world’s number one in terms of technological advances. Works Cited Moyal, Georges J. D. Rene Descartes. New York: Routledge, 1991. Print. Schouls, Peter. Descartes and the Enlightenment. Canada: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 1989. Print. “Social, Political, and Economic Issues in America.

” Media Resources Center. University of California, 30 Mar. 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2011. .