Scientific and technological progress is an integral and important part of modern life. Technology takes up more and more time and space, developing like living organisms, except that all these processes in technology are controlled by humans. The main tasks that the developers set for themselves are to improve the standard of living and eliminate human involvement in routine, monotonous, monotonous work. However, in reality, not everything is so good; not all achievements are beneficial. There are also negative aspects of progress that oblige society to think about the problems of stupidity, alienation, and depersonalization of a person. Let's look at some of the identified problems.

1. People have forgotten how to think.

Thinking is that small but significant part that distinguishes people from animals. All the time we tried to create our own kind, and now, in the era of computerization, this is becoming more and more real. Attempts are increasingly being made to create artificial human intelligence. But while it is not there, we can only use the knowledge that people have received. Most of this knowledge is available through global Internet, which is not only a storehouse of world knowledge, but also a huge “dump” of information intended for entertainment, leisure, communication, etc.

Nowadays it is not necessary to know, for example, when A.S. Pushkin was born; just type in the search “When was Pushkin born” and you will get the answer. When such knowledge is needed, the person performs the following actions:

1) types a search query; 2) receives the necessary information;

3) uses this result for its intended purpose; 4) and... forgets.

The rapid development of technology lags significantly behind the development information technologies, which may lead to computer systems will become smarter than all of humanity in 2050.

2. People stop communicating directly with each other.

Over the past few years, we have seen the rapid development of social networks. Initially, they were supposed to help people have dynamic targeting and phone book, where users themselves add information about themselves, which provides a convenient means of communication.

But, like any other part of human life, they began to acquire less and less idealistic and more vital features. Games, entertainment, and outright garbage. The worst thing is that social networks are now very popular and fashionable, since many have chosen them as an alternative to real life, spending more than 10 hours a day “online”.

It can be noted that social networks have become a stronghold of frankly low-brow information promoting drugs, violence and other negative topics. And since they are considered fashionable, many “immature minds” idealize this information and consider it quite normal for their own “implementation” into life.

A person has ceased to be a person on the Internet, all individuality is erased, and thinking becomes monotonous and simple. It all comes down to pressing a Button. The button is the central part social network. She thinks for you, with Her help your “friends” will show you that they liked your photo. She is asked to press because whose Button is pressed more often has some place in society. Over time, people forget how to communicate directly in real life, because on the Internet you can do things that you would never allow yourself in reality: a complete lack of control in expressions, illiterate writing is the norm, because you can present yourself as a completely different person, with a different name than it actually is.

3. People stopped working

Even at the dawn of industrialization and mechanization, humanity was faced with the contradictory results of the introduction of machines. On the one hand, they saved people from hard work, and on the other, by replacing a person with a machine, the dismissed worker lost his job and livelihood.

Of course, if robots do their work faster and better, then the entrepreneur will not even think about who to hire, a human or a robot. But at the same time, we have to think, what will billions of people do? Of course, engineers developing more and more new technical solutions will not be left without work for now. But the emergence of artificial intelligence will save humanity from this work. Here one surprising point arises: a person works to avoid working in the future. It turns out that with the development of artificial intelligence that surpasses human intelligence, for the first time in its history, a person will no longer control progress, but will only draw information received by artificial intelligence. This is a real picture of the development of technology.

4. People stop being... people

Having analyzed the previous points, the question naturally arises:

What is the essence of man, what distinguishes him from other creatures? We can state that he is capable of thinking, reasoning, communicating; creating, creating a second nature; is able to work, and this ennobles, develops and distinguishes a person from the surrounding reality; he feels, experiences, loves, hates, suffers, rejoices.

But he is gradually losing all this with the development of science! And, consequently, he ceases to be a person in the classical sense of the word. Modern man no longer thinks - the computer tells him the solution, he no longer communicates, but just presses buttons, he does not work - robots do it for him.

5. Society 2.0

Why 2.0? Firstly: it has now become fashionable to name something after the example of program versions (1.0, 2.0, 2.2, etc.). Secondly: the society of the second version combines the achievements of modern science and technology and the cultural level of the past. Science in modern society should occupy the same role as culture, but no more, but nevertheless, it must continue to develop. Science must learn much more than it knows in any this moment.

For a long time, humanity has been moving towards the level of development of science and technology that we have today, and throughout all this time it has not noticed that it is being destroyed from within: those qualities of a person that make him such are being lost. Direct communication is increasingly fading into the background, giving way to remote communication, thinking comes down to the fact that “the computer knows best,” and as a result, complete trust electronic sources.

At the same time, all the shortcomings and negative consequences of technology development are offset by positive ones: with the growth of science, universal human knowledge also grows, allowing one to save resources, money, and time. Also, everyone large quantity people take the path of enhancing cultural values ​​using modern technological advances.

16 comments:

1) kuku: (2013-02-24 17:51:33 )

Is it possible or not to make it bigger or not and fatter please

2)Fed: (2013-04-18 11:06:15 )

Use the key combination on your keyboard: Ctrl + mouse wheel!

3) I: (2013-05-30 22:28:07 )

I think that people will think more, discuss scientific achievements and developments, dream and fantasize. Intellectual abilities will increase sharply thanks to learning technologies, and we will be able to live in a society with a high culture and be in a constant process of self-development, using the knowledge acquired by humanity. Knowledge about the world will expand, which will allow you to realize all your abilities. Science will determine the direction of society. Travel will become the main entertainment.

4) vetal: (2013-10-13 07:48:25 )

5) vetal: (2013-10-29 14:02:35 )

I, it's nice to see that someone sees the positive aspects in our relationship with technology. Just like Jacque Fresco

6) guest: (2014-02-06 17:27:37 )

The robots will kill us aaaaaaa))))))))
:-)

7) Turk: (2014-03-06 16:33:48 )

QuotesChimp have noticed that numerous variables enter the price of your premium. The good thing about the majority of the automobile insurance costs systems is they are according to issues strictly inside your manage. This being therefore, you will find actions you may try to keep your rates down.

8) guest: (2015-04-15 20:05:52 )

9) Valeria: (2017-04-27 23:01:17 )

Interesting

10) Valeria: (2017-04-27 23:02:04 )

11) Valeria: (2017-04-27 23:02:49 )

Good for history

12) guest: (2017-04-27 23:03:04 )

13) valeria: (2017-04-27 23:03:04 )

Good for history

14) valeria: (2017-04-27 23:03:06 )

Interesting

15) oleg: (2017-12-24 20:50:29 )

The topic of wars in the light of new technologies is not disclosed.

16) Tanya: (2018-02-11 19:05:52 )

It'll be in Russian

In our time, productive forces have reached planetary levels. The earth seemed to shrink in size. New transport systems, communications, space technology, and the Internet have entered everyday life. On television we see what is happening on the other side of the planet. The material conditions of society became different. At the same time, a number of negative side effects occur in society. The way of life, the internal state of society, and the person himself have also radically changed. These changes are universal and objective. Along with the global environmental crisis, we can talk about a global social crisis. But unlike the external environment, relatively little attention has been paid to the internal state of society, although the potential danger is no less significant. Even a general approach was not formulated; the processes of internal degradation of society were not described. But, as in the environment, in the social environment (society) a whole set of negative side effects arises.

The development of civilization and radical changes in the surrounding world have led to an internal crisis of man himself, his discord with the really existing world. There has been a separation of the consciousness of people and their biological basis, formed during the long evolution, from the modern pace of life and the level of technology. An increasing number of people can no longer cope with the stresses dictated by life and cannot adapt to the world around them. Sustained fatigue occurs due to stress on the human body. The number of crimes, mental illnesses, the number of marginalized people, criminals, alcoholics, and drug addicts is growing. And this process is continuously accelerating. The problem is that a person’s ability to adapt to changing conditions is not unlimited. As in ecology, where maximum permissible concentrations of various substances and their lethal (lethal) doses are determined, there are also critical parameters here.

The real reason why the difficulties experienced by humanity have now acquired such enormous, truly terrifying proportions is precisely that none of us has yet fully adapted, either psychologically or functionally, to the changed world and the new position of man in it. And this, in essence, applies even more to representatives of the intelligentsia, scientists, politicians and, in general, all kinds of leaders - industrial, trade union, religious - than to ordinary representatives of all strata of society in both developed and developing countries. The essence of the problem lies precisely in the discrepancy between the reality created by man and the way he perceives it and how he takes it into account in his behavior. The reality that is changing uncontrollably before our eyes, which we do not have time to keep track of, torments and frightens us. After all, our entire perception of the world, all the incentives for our behavior, all values, the entire system of institutions and institutions and our entire way of life, in essence, remained to us as a legacy from previous centuries. And, feeling clearly out of place, we timidly and unsuccessfully try to adapt to new conditions, no longer able to live in the old, natural world, but also not yet ready to fully acclimatize to a new, highly unnatural environment, which we ourselves created. Our psyche and health suffer deeply from all this, the ability to make sound assessments and judgments weakens, and, depressed and confused by this entire avalanche of changes, we cannot develop a correct and consistent line of behavior. The operation of many complex systems is at the limit of human capabilities. As a result, accidents and disasters occur, which are inevitable companions of scientific and technological progress.

Modern problems are primarily related to the fact that we live in a time of change in communication technologies. The time of stationary letters was replaced by the time of moving pictures. The book was replaced by a TV and a computer. This led to colossal consequences, the impact of which on us we cannot fully understand, because we are “inside” the process. Indeed, it is precisely the activity of practical reason that leads to many manifestations of the crisis of modern civilization, essential component which is the technological application of science. Technology in the broad sense of the word can be understood as the objective world subjected to rationalization. Together with technology, the form of rationality that previously existed in the scientific mind is introduced into the world. Today, understanding technology, its connections with science and culture, and relationships with people constitute the main focus of modern philosophical problems.

Humanity has been and continues to be gripped by the process of the emergence of a mass society, a process that would have been impossible without the development of technology: this is mass unemployment, closely related to technological progress, accompanied by the destruction of crafts and the disintegration of traditional social ties, this is mass culture disseminated by the media, both printed and electronic. In the latter case, a person loses his individuality.

Technology is, to some extent, the impetus for many social phenomena. Consider, for example, popular culture. At first glance, its penetration into everyday consciousness is noticeable everywhere, from villages to capitals. Democracy and accessibility of schooling, universal literacy, colossal circulations of newspapers and magazines flowing out of high-speed printing presses, cheap and well-made color reproductions of paintings and high-quality recordings of musical works - all this can undoubtedly be considered a positive result of the achievements of the information technology world . But upon closer examination, we pay attention to the other side, to the negative consequences of the introduction of new information technology into this area, such as television and the Internet, which can so profoundly change mass consciousness that we can talk about the transition of universal literacy to its opposite and Personal insensitivity to the written word is also a result of human existence in the modern information technology world.

The media have long gone beyond the capabilities of ordinary journalism, radio and cinema. Now modern television and the Internet are coming to the fore, which, thanks to communication satellites, have acquired a worldwide audience as an object of obsessive manipulation. In this case, information and technological advances are used to transmit all kinds of trifles, gossip, intimate details of private life and conflict situations, turning the world into a “global village”. society education spiritual knowledge

Nowadays, no one doubts the benefits that intellectual development. In contrast to the specialized division of labor in industrial production, modern scientific specialization is not aimed at replacing skilled labor with unskilled labor; rather, on the contrary, more specialized and qualified scientific labor displaces less specialized and less qualified scientific work. For technical specialists, the internal need for a holistic view of technical and social problems, for a humanistic and versatile education, disappears. This entails dangers for traditional cultural institutions and for political and public democracy. These dangers become all the more ominous the more narrowly technical mastery of all planetary resources becomes possible.

Thus, scientific and information technology innovations, successful or unsuccessful, really achievable or only imagined, act as a factor that undermines the established level of cultural life and public consciousness.

This happens for the following reasons:

• 1. scientific and technological progress challenges the power, strength, significance and even the very existence of traditional religious and aesthetic experiences in all their forms;
• 2. it strengthens the symbolic fetish of science and technology in people’s minds, or, in other words, it turns science into anti-science, the rational into the irrational;
• 3. it transforms everyday relationships between people, changing social relations of production, consumption and communication;
• 4. it transforms social ideas about what is pleasure in the fulfillment of desires, while weakening the effect of cultural traditions, depriving the individual of reliance on them, placing him at the mercy of irrational and unceremonious, tenacious manipulations;
• 5. the technique of elite social planning is alienated from people, perceived by them as a disjointed chaos of momentary, one-sided decisions that have no connection with the real life aspirations of people, turning them into a faceless mass;
• 6. The universal nature of global problems, combined with unbridled technical optimism, comes into conflict with the life experience of a particular person.

So, does the development of science bring good or evil to people? The product of intellectual work belongs to everyone and therefore it is not easy to control for what purposes it will be used. It is clear that a surgical scalpel can save a person’s life, but it can also kill him. An effective drug taken in a large dose turns into a terrible poison. As a result of the development of gas chemistry, chemical weapons arose; the study of the properties of electricity made it possible to construct the electric chair. Dynamite and TNT, which appeared in the laboratory, are used by builders laying tracks in the mountains, and by revolutionaries seeking to “spur history.”

The use of information and communication technologies opens up broad opportunities for economic growth and social development of states, but at the same time creates problems and risks, and gives rise to deepening interstate and intrastate inequality. In particular, we are talking about unequal opportunities for people to create and use existing electronic information resources, especially on the Internet.

Unless access to the use of these technologies is expanded, a large proportion of the population in developing countries will not benefit from them. The enormous potential of information and communication technologies is underutilized. This led to the emergence “digital divide” (“digital divide”, “digital divide”), “virtual barrier” on the way of trade. Such a barrier can isolate manufacturers, organizations and states that do not have access to new technologies from markets.

Along with the “digital divide” and the “virtual barrier”, changes in information technology of work performed can often have a negative impact on people (information noise, etc.) participating in these processes, causing them various negative reactions (information, psychological barriers, etc. .).

Information noise means that in the total volume of received useful data there are extraneous signals (noise). In the IRS, it indicates that as a result of searching for a query, the user received information that did not correspond to his request (irrelevant).

Information barrier– one of the factors that impedes obtaining the necessary information, making it difficult to use documents as sources of information. It is largely caused by the laws of development of information flows: the constant increase in the number of publications, their dispersion in various publications, the aging of publications and, conversely, their actualization. The information barrier affects both the stratification of information and society. Its appearance and deepening are facilitated by such phenomena as information noise, psychological barriers, etc.

Psychological barrier usually arises as a person’s defensive reaction to attempts to change the established sequence of his actions. It is associated with the need to perform new complex types of work, with overloads that appear when searching for data, selecting them from a large array of information received and studying selected materials, sometimes amounting to several hundred or even thousands of documents.

Information technologies contribute to the escapism of reality in children and adolescents and it is believed that children who are interested in computer technology may experience a “narrowing of interests due to attention only to the latest information technology, following fashion in this area.”

However, this is not the only option for this negative influence computerization - there are quite a lot of consequences of informatization. Examples of such negative personality changes include: hobbies computer games, Internet, programming and information technology in general (so-called hacking).

The development of information technology is also associated with the emergence of problems, barriers and risks that create inequality among people (“digital divide” and “virtual barrier”). Changes in the technology of work performed sometimes have a negative impact on the people involved in these processes, causing them negative reactions, for example, rejection and rejection, fatigue, etc., generating information noise, as well as information and psychological barriers.

Because of the euphoria about positive consequences When using information technology (IT), the risks associated with it are underestimated or ignored - often extremely serious. Let's talk about some of them.

Introduction

I was prompted to consider the negative consequences of using IT by ancient wisdom and my personal experience. A famous proverb says: “All that glitters is not gold.” As a computer science professor ( computer technology) I am naturally focused on the positive aspects of using IT in education and research. To be honest, I tried to point out earlier that using IT to solve a problem does not automatically make that solution “good/better” (that is, actually capable of solving the problem), but then no one wanted to hear about it.

The euphoria about IT continues to this day. What should be emphasized is that the user does not benefit directly from IT, but from using it to solve his problems. The second source of motivation was my membership in the interim committee for the preparation of the current UNESCO Intergovernmental Information for All Programme. Its predecessors were the Intergovernmental Program on Informatics and the General information program(IIP and PGI). The rationale for the “merger” of the two programs was the potential benefit of greater collaboration and cross-fertilization between the programs, as well as the rapid development of information and communications technology (ICT). The mission and purpose of the Program were defined, and its key concept was “information”. One of the unintended consequences of this “innovation” was that computer science was abandoned or replaced by information. And, what’s even worse, there was no place for computer science specialists in the Program either.

The advantage of science and technology is problem solving

Throughout human history, “new ideas (a product of intangible form)” have helped people overcome difficulties, improve the quality of their lives, and survive. In modern society the situation has not changed: new ideas often come from science and technology. Both of these areas contribute to solving pressing problems of humanity. It is not surprising that people are grateful and appreciate this help. However, there are other aspects of problem solving that people overlook (or are forced to ignore, or underestimate, or simply do not want to take into account). The exception, perhaps, is the financial aspect. The world of problem solving aspects is, of course, much more complex than we imagine. It covers cost (economic aspects), environmental consequences, culture, ethics, etc.

Computers - information technology - information

Computers have made breakthroughs in solving problems, initially related to numerical calculations. They completely changed the idea of ​​computing - speed, volume, etc. More and more areas of use have emerged: non-numerical computing, non-algorithmic computing, the use of artificial intelligence, and information processing, among others. New branches of science and technology have emerged, such as computer science and information technology, and information has become the key object for using IT. IT has provided access, storage and processing of information in real time. They introduced a new type of communication and computing into the organization of networks, primarily the Internet. They have become a socio-economic phenomenon. However, we should still keep in mind that the benefits of IT come from its use as a tool for solving problems.

"Green" information technologies

Advances in technology lead to innovations that typically improve the functionality or reduce the cost of technology systems. The so-called Moore's Law best describes the peculiarities of IT. It states that throughout the history of computing, the number of transistors on integrated circuits has doubled approximately every two years. As a result, the market offers new, more powerful and cheaper computers and puts pressure on consumers to replace their “old-fashioned” computers with more modern ones.

Even if we remove the question of the real reason for replacing a computer that fully meets our needs and expectations, another problem always arises: what to do with the old device (this is true for any technological equipment)? Computers suddenly become trash, waste that has a negative impact on the environment. At first, this problem was underestimated and ignored, but later the consequences became more and more serious, and now we have adopted the "green computer" or "environmentally oriented computing" program. While green computing is more focused on computer technology, green information technology is primarily concerned with the use of a computer. On February 13, 2003, the European Union adopted the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), which legally prohibits the use of six hazardous materials in the production of various types of electronic and electrical equipment. It is closely linked to the European Union's Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive, which sets targets for the collection, recycling and repair of electrical goods and is part of a legislative initiative aimed at reducing the huge amount of toxic electronic waste. This Directive is certainly important, but I would like to once again emphasize the important role of each individual user: it is he who decides when and what kind of computer he buys and how to use it.

Information technology and education

To use IT, you must have appropriate knowledge or special education. This is how IT becomes the subject and object of study. This great tool for learning (undoubtedly the best in history). IT is accompanied by an information explosion and ensures the relevance of knowledge. Learning is becoming more and more important and lifelong learning has become an integral part of our lives. The knowledge necessary to use IT has led to the emergence of new literacy - computer, information, and media literacy. This new literacy is now part of the curriculum at every level of education. IT allows you to access information in real time, regardless of location, store and process it. This, of course, has positive consequences for education, since it ensures the availability of educational resources in various modes, the ability to demonstrate dynamic processes, etc. The ease of presentation and accessibility of information online are expressed in the slogan “Everything is online/The Internet has everything.”

One of the negative consequences of this situation is the temptation to present the content as your own product, that is, the temptation to plagiarize. Another problem in IT and education is gender inequality. A special case is the education of IT specialists. The proportion of female students at the Slovak University in Bratislava enrolled in IT programs varies from 3 to 10%. At other universities the situation is generally the same. This is a complex problem, because, on the one hand, this is generally typical for the technology sector, and in particular information technology, but, on the other hand, the IT industry offers good, quiet working conditions, the possibility of remote work from home, etc., which is very Suitable for female professionals. Moreover, the IT sector needs women professionals, their creativity and special approach to solving problems. Our university is trying to solve the problem of gender inequality and has developed new project“And you are in IT”, which is intended to draw attention to obtaining professional education in the IT field through positive examples, success stories and information campaigns. We already have the first positive results.

Digital Divide

IT is also associated with the digital divide. There are many explanations and interpretations of the concept of “digital divide”. What can create a digital divide? IT ownership or access to IT, ability to use IT (computer literacy), experience in problem solving (information literacy + computer science), skills in using the results of problem solving (information literacy), etc. Each of these issues has the potential to further fuel digital inequality. One example of such inequality is the problem of “fathers and children”. The younger generation has a better understanding of IT due to the fact that computer/information/media literacy is part of modern education. On the other hand, the older generation is “stronger” in solving problems. Both sides can benefit from closer cooperation. But that's a completely different story.

Digital divide and problem solving

As noted above, IT itself does not bring benefits, it is only a tool for solving user problems. Nevertheless, the statistics of any country related to information literacy, building information society etc., covers only the possibilities of using IT, i.e. number of hardware components such as PCs, laptops, Internet access points, Cell phones. It does not take into account at all what IT is used for, what users access: pornography, educational materials or games. It becomes clear that other indicators are needed to assess the actual use of IT

Poverty

IT can truly help reduce global poverty. What worries me is that poverty is reduced only to economic or material form. In addition to economic and material poverty, there is also intangible poverty - lack of literacy, culture, ethics, etc. I think this type of poverty is much more important. It falls largely within the competence of UNESCO. On the other hand, IT is big business. As such, it has an impact on decision makers, IT users and society at large. It generates a new type of wealth - “0/1” wealth with special properties. One example of this type of wealth is the .com domain.

Information technology security and information confidentiality

The importance of technology security increases as its use becomes significant. The more sensitive the information being processed, the more important it is to ensure IT security. Today we can observe cases of abuse of technology, information, cases of unauthorized access, disclosure of information, and all kinds of violations. Therefore, it is not surprising that people have a question: can they trust anyone if PRISM, XKeyscore and others exist in the world? similar programs to monitor global work on the Internet?

What to do in this situation?

The negative consequences of using IT are real. The question is how to overcome these problems, what can contribute to their solution. In my opinion, truthfulness and education can help. And who can participate in this? Every citizen, schools, organizations such as UNESCO and its Information for All Programme.

Ludovit MOLNAR

Chairman of the Slovak National Commission for UNESCO; Professor at the Slovak University of Technology (Bratislava, Slovakia)

The rapid development of productive forces, caused by the increase in scientific and technological progress, leads to an increase in human power. But how, for what purpose is this power used? Who benefits from the ever-increasing power of man? To make the discussion of these issues more specific, we should turn to the main directions, the main lines along which scientific and technological progress is carried out.

1. We know that at the modern technological stage of scientific and technological progress, the decisive, pivotal role, the role of a catalyst for production and management activities belongs to information technology. It began to develop intensively in the 40s of our century and in half a century has reached an extraordinary scale and such technical results that could not have been dreamed of several decades ago. The first giant computers performed only a few thousand operations per second. The latest supercomputers already perform billions of operations per second. Their energy consumption has decreased hundreds of times. The first computers occupied several large rooms and required hundreds of kilometers of wires for their production. Modern microcomputers fit on a desk and can be operated by almost anyone. With the latest discoveries in the field of high-temperature superconductivity, we can expect that by the mid-1990s, computers that perform tens of trillions of operations per second and have a memory capable of storing the information contained in millions of books will not exceed the size of a human skull. Currently, work is underway to create artificial intelligence. Computers with artificial intelligence will be able to carry out quite complex logical reasoning; they can be entrusted with solving complex problems related to scientific research, designing machines and entire enterprises. They will be able to automatically manage flexible production and relieve many workers, engineers and employees from monotonous, routine work. With the help of the latest personal computers, it will be possible to create modern cottage industries, dramatically increase labor productivity and change the nature of education. Children and adults will have the opportunity to master new information tens of times faster, and scientific knowledge, to which only specialists now have access, will become the property of hundreds of millions of people. People's way of life, everyday life, communication will change, language barriers will collapse. Computers will translate scientific literature and documents from one language to another with little or no human assistance.

Hundreds of thousands of robots and hundreds of fully automated production facilities are already operating based on modern microelectronics. By the end of the century, millions of new generation robots will come into operation, capable of understanding and transmitting human speech, possessing color and three-dimensional vision, tireless, devoid of negative emotions, unperturbed and extremely resilient, automatically operating devices that can largely replace humans. What will all this lead to?

In a capitalist society, even in the most developed countries, there is a huge army of people excluded from the sphere of production activity due to scientific and technological progress. Despite the fact that the development of information technology leads to the creation of a certain number of new jobs, the army of unemployed people generated by robotization and computerization of production is continuously growing. In developed capitalist countries, a new social disease has appeared, caused by fear of modern computer equipment and robots - “technostress”, and in the future the number of so-called unnecessary people excluded from public life may grow even faster. This is explained by the fact that capitalist enterprises see information technology primarily as a means to make a profit. Therefore, the negative consequences of the spread of this technology are not the result of the use of computers and robots in themselves, but a consequence of their capitalist use.

On the contrary, in a socialist society, the development and application of information technology pursues other goals, the most important of which is the creation of conditions for creative work and the all-round development of man. Therefore, the introduction of computers and robots is not subordinated to profit, but to human interests. Currently, socialist countries are embarking on the path of informatization of society and are striving to use its achievements to accelerate socio-economic progress. Systematic retraining of workers is carried out. At the same time, the development of new technologies is planned in such a way that the entire working-age population is employed in socially useful work. But even under socialism, information technology reduces the share of living human labor in the production of material goods. Won't this lead to unemployment here sooner or later? Certainly not. The labor force released in industry will be used for humanitarian purposes, such as educating the younger generation, creating better living conditions for the disabled and elderly, strengthening the physical and spiritual health of all members of society, protecting and restoring nature. More and more people will have access to knowledge. The educational level of society, and at the same time its information and intellectual potential, will grow. Information technology will accelerate the production of new knowledge and its implementation in industry, agriculture, medicine, management, etc.

The volume of knowledge about nature, about ways to conserve it, about the possibilities for extremely economical use and restoration of natural resources will also increase. Thus, the introduction of the most powerful of new technologies will make it possible to take the most significant step in establishing harmonious relations between nature and man, society and its environment. Usage modern computers allows you to create precise and very complex mathematical models(515) interaction between man and nature. With their help, you can accurately calculate the exchange process between society and nature, fully take into account and strictly dose the volume of necessary natural resources, as well as create and, most importantly, automatically control waste-free closed technological cycles. Thus, the development of information technology and computerization of all spheres of social activity gives rise to new opportunities for restoring the ecological balance disturbed by the previous development of society.

2. One of the most important global problems of humanity is the creation of new energy sources. Until now, the main achievement of energy technology remains the use of nuclear energy. However, it is fraught with many dangers and contradictions. On the one hand, nuclear energy makes it possible to obtain cheap electricity and save natural fuel, but on the other hand, it creates a constant threat of radioactive contamination of the environment. But the greatest danger lies in the existence of nuclear weapons. Socialist countries, fighting for peace and nuclear disarmament, have made a number of proposals to reduce the number of nuclear warheads, launch vehicles, ban nuclear explosions, etc. Imperialist circles, under the pretext of strengthening security, which in reality no one threatens, strive to preserve their nuclear power, which poses a threat not only to the existence of humanity, but also to all life on earth.

The latest scientific discoveries allow us to hope that by the end of the century humanity will create a controlled thermonuclear reaction. This will place at its disposal practically inexhaustible resources of energy, with the help of which it will be possible to overcome many of the difficulties standing in its way, to preserve many mineral resources and to limit the use of oil, coal and natural gas only to the field of chemical production. But for this it is necessary that all states in the world, all economic systems put human interests at the forefront, and not the extraction of profit, not the subjugation of other peoples. Such an approach is possible only from the position of socialism, from the position of socialist spiritual values.

At the same time, the production of nuclear energy is associated with great dangers for humans and nature. Wherever a disaster occurs at a nuclear power plant, it can have the most severe consequences for all of humanity, for the ecological system of the entire planet. Therefore, the prospect of further development of energy technology must be considered in close unity with the protection of the natural and artificial environment. The contradiction between the need to protect natural energy sources from depletion and the negative consequences of nuclear energy can only be overcome on the basis of a kind of “technological dialectic”, which makes it possible to avoid the destructive consequences of technological progress for nature with the help of this progress itself.

3. Modern chemical technology makes it possible to obtain new artificial materials that do not exist in nature, replacing natural leather, wood, rubber, wool, some metals, etc.

Chemicalization creates highly effective fertilizers, medicines, and pest control products. All this contributes to better use of natural resources, improved agricultural productivity, improved health and increased life expectancy of people. At the same time, chemical waste pollutes the surrounding atmosphere, water bodies, soil, and seabed. In a capitalist society, where each capitalist pursues his own personal goals, where there is private ownership of land and natural resources, the harmful effects of chemicalization are almost impossible to prevent. On the contrary, in a socialist society the chemical industry can be used to combat the harmful effects of its own production. In the USSR and other socialist countries, huge funds are allocated to combat environmental pollution. Certain results have been achieved in this direction.

4. Scientific and technological progress makes it possible to create waste-free technology. Using the achievements of science, modern industry and agriculture can organize technological process so that production waste does not pollute the environment, but returns to the production cycle as secondary raw materials. Here, modern reducing chemistry and electronic computing technology are used simultaneously. Under socialism, chemicalization and waste-free technologies make it possible to carry out a number of environmental measures and at the same time dramatically improve the artificial human environment. At first glance, it seems that the creation of waste-free technologies is a purely technical and engineering task. In fact, it leads to serious philosophical reflection. After all, biological systems that have developed in nature in the form of biocenoses are arranged in such a way that the animals, plants, and microorganisms included in them complement each other and determine each other’s life activity, and the waste of the life activity of some can serve as a prerequisite for the life activity of others. Carbon dioxide released by animals is absorbed by plants, and the oxygen released by the latter is necessary for animal respiration. For a person interacting with nature, the challenge now is to organize this interaction according to a similar scheme. It is necessary to ensure that the huge amount of already accumulated waste from life and production is used to create useful products and at the same time ceases to flow into natural ecosystems, thereby preventing their destruction. This task is now becoming global and truly fateful for all humanity.

5. The development of biology, especially biotechnology, genetics and genetic engineering, makes it possible today to control the heredity of living organisms. In the near future, the industrial application of genetic engineering will dramatically increase the productivity of agricultural plants and animals. Advances in this area create conditions for the elimination of many diseases, their prevention, general improvement health and increased life expectancy. However, a number of problems arise here that require serious socio-philosophical and ethical reflection. We are talking, first of all, about the fact that the achievements of modern science, genetic engineering, and biotechnology themselves do not lead unambiguously, automatically to predetermined, exclusively positive consequences. The nature of these consequences depends on both objective conditions and subjective factors, such as the level of technological development, production culture, moral and socio-political attitudes, as well as the nature of the social system as a whole. Thus, modern microbiology and virology can, with the help of biotechnology, lead to the creation of new medicines, new food concentrates for animals and people, but they can also give rise to terrible biological weapons, cause serious illnesses, epidemics, etc. New fertilizers and weed control products and pests can lead to increased yields, but in some cases they can cause food poisoning. Now there is both a real opportunity to cure severe hereditary illnesses, and the opportunity to influence people’s heredity for criminal purposes. Therefore, the moral attitudes of scientists and engineers, their awareness of moral responsibility for the results of scientific and technological progress, are acquiring great social significance today. However, progress in biotechnology can also have serious environmental consequences. It can become an important environmental and environmental restoration factor that helps maintain the ecological balance that has been disturbed for centuries, the preservation of which is one of the most important conditions for the existence of mankind. This is why the responsibility of science and technology for our future is so great.

Man, who appeared on earth as a result of the development and complexity of life, was now able to create new forms of life and influence its change on a global and even cosmic scale. This significantly changes our understanding of the essence and world-historical significance of humanity and introduces new serious changes in the worldview and picture of the world (003, 105).

6. Scientific agricultural technology plays a particularly important role in modern society. The fact is that over the course of several thousand years, people have accumulated vast experience in agriculture and cattle breeding, which ensured they received the necessary food. But now, in the conditions of the so-called population explosion (309), many countries and peoples, especially those recently liberated from colonialism, do not have enough food reserves created in the traditional way. Modern science has developed many effective ways agricultural intensification. Taken together, they form the latest agricultural technology. These include the use of highly effective fertilizers, the use of the latest agricultural machinery and electronics, complex irrigation and drainage works, and finally, the selection and breeding of highly productive breeds of livestock, poultry and new types of agricultural plants. However, the consequences of using this agricultural technology are different in different social systems. Thus, some countries in Europe and America produce enough food to provide not only their population, but also the population of other countries. At the same time, they often make food their political weapon, selling and providing it on preferential terms to countries that follow their political course, and denying it to others.

On the contrary, in a socialist society, despite a number of difficulties that have not yet been overcome, caused by stagnation in the economy, everything necessary is being done to provide all segments of the population with high-quality agricultural products. At the same time, the goal is to combine a policy of constantly increasing agricultural production with the implementation of a full range of environmental measures designed to ensure the preservation of fertile soils, forests, meadows and pastures in the interests of present and future generations.

We have considered only the main consequences of scientific and technological progress and some modern technologies in various socio-economic systems. The conclusion that follows from this is obvious: the nature of the consequences of the current stage of scientific and technological progress depends not on the technique and technology itself, not on isolated scientific results, but on the conditions under which and to achieve what goals they are used. The philosophical meaning of our analysis is that the attitude of a person to the world around him or society to nature is mediated by certain social conditions. And if we want to make this relationship harmonious and constructive, not leading to the destruction of nature and at the same time providing favorable conditions for the development of mankind, then it is necessary, first of all, to create appropriate social conditions.

What happened here in the 20th century and in what situation

turned out to be science and technology today, what they promise and what they threaten

hope for the nations in the future? These are already concrete questions, practically

ical ones inevitably acquire political overtones.

Even relatively recently - only half a century ago, science

functioned as if with the processes that developed in

sphere of production, without affecting the social foundations of life

activities of people. Despite some brilliant achievements

natural sciences, scientific research in the eyes of many

were busy with an occupation of importance that could be given

due, but which could not be included on a large scale

into the sphere of business interests. Accordingly, the activities

scientists continued to be perceived traditionally - only as non-

understandable to a wide circle is the work of loners engaged in contemplation

natural phenomena. The situation changed after

The first nuclear device was detonated at Los Alamo. It became

it is obvious that even the most abstract branches of science have

close connection with socio-economic life, with politics.

However, the unprecedented direct impact of science

on the affairs of people is revealed, of course, not only in

that its military use left the question of life open

only through atomic explosions. The immediate nature of this

influence makes itself felt in the sphere of creation, in everyday

life of the population. What consequences will this have for self-

of the person and society in which we live, and what real

new, urgent social and human

problems arise due to this today. If you try

Briefly answer the questions posed and determine the topic

the most important social problem, then the answer may sound

so: the higher the level of production technology and all human

economic activity, the higher should be the degree of development

society, man himself in their interaction with nature.

A similar conclusion was made a long time ago: a deep inter-

and the connection between the development of science and technology and social transformations

development, as well as human development, his culture, including relationships

connection to nature. What new does the new type of development of science bring?

and technology? It aggravates the problems that have arisen here to the limit,

requiring precisely high contact: new technology With

society, man, nature, and this is no longer

only a vital necessity, but also an indispensable condition

both the effective use of this technology and the

existence of society, man, nature. This problem has

has broad significance in modern conditions, since

how it is solved depends on the construction of the scientific and technological strategy

ical progress as a force that can either threaten or

to contribute to the development of man and civilization. And here

on the path to understanding the humanistic orientation of science

are called idols of technocratism.

There is a certain logic in which principles

are coming to the fore at the moment, which is against them

what is real and what is an imaginary alternative. Logi-

how this is determined by objective and subjective factors

social development in their connection with progress and technology

The current situation can be briefly described

in the following way. The utmost intensity of human thought

which is concentrated in modern science, as if I came to

contact with one’s “anti-world” - with distorting power

inhumane social relations, with alienation from sub-

linear science the sphere of false consciousness, striving to be oil-

owl and it would seem that there can be only one result - the

a massive explosion. But it doesn't happen, or at least

is expressed, although in quite sharp, but limited forms.

max. This is the case, firstly, because specialization

science has gone too far for any contact with

sphere of alienated mass consciousness could affect the deepest

binary, so to speak, essential forces of science; secondly, then

we know that trends have emerged that have a “calming effect” and

Among them, not the last (if not the first) role is played by those mathematics

real benefits that turned out to be directly

associated with the successes of science and technology and have significantly influenced

growth of public mass consumption.

These latest trends were not slow to take shape if

not theoretically, then, at least ideologically - in co-

corresponding technocratic concepts that are absolutely

outline the importance of science and technology in the life of society, asserting

that they transform it directly and directly bypassing social

al factors.

In 1949, J. Fourastier’s book “The Great Hope” was published.

yes XX century", which became the banner of bourgeois reformist technology

nocratism. According to Fourastier, intensive technical and

scientific developments open up opportunities for humanity

evolution towards the creation of the so-called "scientific ob-

society", freed from the burden of political, social,

religious and other antagonisms. Science and technology in this

future society will become the basis of life not only

social organism as a whole, but equally as an individual

ny individuals included in this whole. " Computer-

utopia" proposed by Fourastier was rated as "Great

the greatest hope of the 20th century." In his later works, the French

to make it impossible for the outdated system to exist

themes of values ​​and lay the foundation for a new one, and this is half-

when it will be associated with the emergence of a new cosmic re-

league, which will be a healing principle permeating all

the fabric of the future "scientific society". This reconstruction is co-

are carried out, according to Fourastier, by adherents of science, or rather theologians,

"imbued with a scientific-experimental spirit and familiar with the

the greatest achievements of science."

This is an unexpected result of the reasoning at first glance.

J. Fourastier, natural for technocratic thinking.

Fourastier was one of the first to attract the attention of the world

public to modern problems called global

knowledgeable, including to the problem of man and his future in

connections with the processes of development of science and technology. However, in case

with Fourastier, the pattern of transition from technocratic

whose thinking from excessive optimism to pessimism, from

overexaggerated hope - to disappointment, from absolutization

science - to doubt about its capabilities and even to religious

The views of J. Fourastier are a kind of source of many

other technocratic views. You can be sure of this

study, turning to examples of technocratic thinking,

presented, in particular, in the work of the American sociologist

D. Bell, who speaks of the coming “new society”, post-

built structurally and functionally in direct dependence on

science and technology. D. Bell, believes that in this, as he

named, post-industrial society is determined by -

ultimately there are different types of used in economics

scientific knowledge and therefore the main problem becomes the organiza-

nization of science. In accordance with this, the “post-industrial society”

society" according to Bell, is characterized by a new social structure -

swarm, based not on property relations, but on knowledge

research and qualifications. In the book "Cultural contradictions of capital

lism" - Bell brings previously proclaimed ideas to the point of rupture

between economics and culture in accordance with the concept

"disunity of spheres".

There are many supporters of the “technocratic” line

thinking" who believe that the impact of science and technology

on the individual and society, especially in the most developed countries

world, becomes a powerful source of modern change.

Thus, Z. Brzezinski in his book “Between Two Centuries” asserted

gives that post-industrial society becomes technotronic

ny society as a result of the direct influence of technology

and electronics on different aspects of society, its morals,

social structure and spiritual values. Although Z. Brzezinski,

like many other supporters of technocratic ideas,

clearly spoke about social changes that have a global impact

are given to them only in order to prove the ability of society

Technocratic tendencies are all a distinct development in

beamed from G. Kahn and W. Brown: “The next 200 years. Scenario for

America and the whole world." Touching upon the question of the role and signi-

understanding of science and technology (are they forces of good or evil),

exists between humanity and science and technology. Having found my

density with the help of science and technology, humanity is subjecting

themselves of the danger that lies within them. The authors, however, highly

they are opposed to the implementation of a policy aimed at stopping

reduction or slowdown in scientific and technological progress. Against,

they consider it necessary in some cases to speed up this

development, while maintaining caution and vigilance in order to prevent

preventing or reducing possible adverse consequences

emergence in a relatively full volume of "super-industrial-

national economy", multilateral development trend of Western

new culture will be expressed in continuous economic growth,

technological improvements, rationalism and liquidation

tion of prejudices, finally, in an open classless society-

ve, where the belief in that only people and human

life are absolutely sacred.

In Western philosophy, we are increasingly discovering

There is a desire to avoid the popularization of technocracy. K.Yas-

Persian notes that in Europe Promethean inte-

res before technology. Rejecting the notion of "demonism"

technology, K. Japers believes that it is aimed at

in the course of transformation of human labor activity transforms

call the person himself. Moreover, in his opinion, all

the further fate of a person depends on the method through

yours which he will subordinate to himself the consequences of scientific and technical

whom development. According to Jasper, “technology is only a means, itself

She's not good to herself. It all depends on what will be made of it

a person, what it serves, what conditions he puts it under. All

the question is what kind of person will subjugate it, how will he manifest it?

he himself with her help. Technology does not depend on what it can

to be achieved by it, it is just a toy in the hands of man.

K. Jaspers formulated a clear program, which especially

benefits concerns new technology that can radically

change the structure of human activity. Usage

"high technologies" creates a fundamentally new situation in

sphere of production, everyday life, recreation, changes the worldview in many ways

thinking and psychology of people.

Addressing social problems arising from

using new technology, British researchers -

Member of the National Council for Economic Development Ya. Ben-

dream and sociologist J. Moyd believe that "fast technological

changes unfolding in a free market environment,

entail excessive economic, social, personal

local costs on the part of that part of society that

She is only able to withstand them."

The consequences of scientific and technological progress have given rise to

their time in the West various technocratic theories. Their

the essence boiled down to the idea that the general technicalization of life

capable of solving all social problems. Widespread

The concept of a “post-industrial” society has been discussed

(D. Bell and others), according to which society will be governed by

are the organizers of science and technology (managers), and determine

The main factor in the development of social life will be scientific

centers. The fallacy of its main provisions lies in the ab-

solutization, hypertrophying the role of science and technology in society

ve, in the unlawful transfer of organizational functions from one

new, narrow sphere to the whole society as a whole; what's happening here is

exchange the whole one of hers components. Neither technology nor science

ka by themselves are not able to solve complex political

Problems. We must not forget that technology is

only part of the productive forces, and not the most important one.

Man, as the main productive force of society, is completely

completely fell out of sight of the supporters of this concept. IN

This is her main misconception.

IN last years became widespread and directly

opposite concepts of technophobia, that is, fear of

the all-pervasive and all-consuming power of technology. A person feels

feels like a helpless toy in the “iron vice” of scientific and technological

nic progress. From this point of view, scientific and technical

progress is taking on such proportions that it threatens to go out of control

control of society and become a formidable destructive force of civilization

lization capable of causing irreparable harm to nature, such as

the human environment and the person himself. Of course this is

causes concern for all humanity, but should not be accepted

character of an inevitable fatal force, for thereby involuntarily

the importance of rational principles inherent in humanity itself is diminished