PL an

Page 4, The Herald, Friday. September 28, 1979

TER RACE/KITIMAT

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COMMENT

By ED YUDIN

The recent folding of the Montreal Star, one of
Canada’s most influencial newspapers, was greeted
with surprise in most quarters. It shouldn't have been.

Those familiar with the newspaper market realized
years ago that circumstances dictated only one
English language daily could survive in the mostly
French metropolis; 4 shrinking English population
base, the over-expansion of both the Star and the
competitor and ultimate victorious Gazette, and the
general economic and political situation assured this.
The long eight-month strike at the Star doomed the

per.
e The folding of the Montreal Star goes beyond the
death of a newspaper. While British Columbians may
follow the separation debate with bemused interest,
the fact is the fate of Canada as we know it, is being
determined in Quebec. The loss of a responsible and
moderate voice like the Star can only hinder the fight
of the federalists and hasten the departure of more
English Quebeckers.

LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR

Dear Sir: gaugs, different names;
Permit meto comment on same policies.
NDP Persky's Comment One of Persky's

statements is correct,

(Sept 18th).

Peraky, in pursuing the
well known closed-mind-

en-mouth policy that

ways distinguishes the
socialist from the con-
servative free enterpriscr,
refers to Iaw-and-jackboot-
order’ and the plight of the
wmemployed and UIC cheats
and other troublemakers,

Persky's reference to law
and fackboote in the same
breath, leads me to believe
that heis a fasciat hater, as I
am. However, like the
typical socialist, he fails to
see that most of the world’s
a@ppression Is now prac!
by his ‘brother’ soclallats, He
further does not understand
that the old Hitler, Mussolini
Gpe af government was
socialist as well. Socialism
ia by definition, state control
df the economy and means of
production, etc. Different

He states that this ls a
Philosophical argument and
be is correct,

The socialist believes ‘that
the state la God or a.gaod
fasclmilie of same, All who
constitute the ‘masses’ serve
the state. This is Utopia.

The free enterprise in
dividualist usually believes
ina separate God. Ha also
believes that the state is a
machine set up by the people
for their benefit. Govern-

socialist views the world

while standing on his head,

looking into a crooked
carnival mirror,

No wonder he |s confused
and bewildered.

Yours truly

Thomas Atrill

Letters welcome

The Herald welcomes its readers comments.
All letters to the editor of general public interest
will be printed. We do, however, retain the right
to refuse to print letters on grounds
libel or bad taste. We may also edit letters for
style and length. All letters to be considered for
publication must be signed.

of possible

HERMAN

"Did you mean be home by 10 o'clock tonight or
10 o'clock tomorrow morning?’

i

| .

CONNECTION:

Technolog

and

PARTI

change

JAMES BURKE

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the firstin a series of 15
articles exploring “Connections: Technology and
Change.” In this article, historian John G. Burke of
the University of California, Los Angeles, discusses
our ambivalence toward technology today and raises
some cf the questions that will be answered in sub-
sequent articles. This series was written for Courses |
by Newspaper, a program developed by University |
Extension, University of California, San Diego, and ;
funded by a grant from the National Endowment for °
the Humanities. ;

A related 10-part television series, ‘‘Connections,”’
co-produced by the BBC and Time-Life Films, will be :
shown over PBS stations beginning September 30. j
Check your local television listings for exact viewing !
times. j

t
me .

T

og! Water pollution! Excessive noise! Urban civilization, the changes in our culture and in-

sey ae

ment serves the people who Sm

design it and sanctlon its ith! Shoddy products! Lethal food additives! stitutions, and the impact of innovations on ‘hes
‘works. Radioactive wastes! Genetic manipulation! _ <fomnplexity of git tec pglogical society, inde’ he“
thine ‘aa they ate: the -?Denumanization! " * ofthe reasons critics give either for our loss of control

These are the results, critics charge, of our blind or for their charge that the system is manipulated for
faith in technological progress, Rebuttals calling the benefit of a sclentific-technological elite. One
attention to our high standard of living, improved frequently cited example is the 1956 New York

health, longer life spans, better working conditions, Plackout, which plunged the city into darkness for
and increased educational opportunities do not still hburs before power was restored, and the cause of
the critics’ voices. ‘Which stumped experts for days.

Technology is on trial. ‘Is complexity a novel feature of modern

The most ominous assertion is that technology is technology?
now completely out of human control. Technology, the | Similarly, societal and institutional changes are
prosecution says, has become an independent entity, a apparently occurring with astonishing rapidity. A
thing apart from humans who gave il birth, We have century ago, for example, any proposal for a U.S.
become cogs in a huge system of preduction and partment of Energy would have appeared
consumption, a machine having no human purpose. ludicrous. But now, as we worry about an energy
Certainly, modern technology gives most of us a - shortage, it has become a necessity.
means of livelihood, food, shelter rand leisure to watch
TV. But the price we pay for these mater
satisfactions, it is said, is our freedom. JOHN BURKE

Technology, critics declare, not only shapes and «
directs every aspect of our lives, but threatens the . Have advancing technologies always had the erect
very existence of the human species, Our increasing ‘of altering cultures? Has the pace of change
love affair with rationality and efficiency — that is, quickened?:- - ° ‘~.
science and engineering — is responsible for creating ~ Only when welodicto the past do we realize fully how
this technological monstrosity. We are thus caught in ‘very different, our ‘methods of producing goods are
a web of our own making. ‘from those of vir‘ forebears. Technology has

One possible escape route may be open, declare the unquestionably affected the work process. However,
anti-technologists, but only if we act quickly and - the important question is whether our labor has
forecefully. Repudiate modern science and high ome more individually rewarding and more
technology. Return to a simpler way of life. - socially beneficial.

Even if these prophets of doom are exaggerating or ~ . Yet, effects do not occur without preconditions. One
are mistaken, there are many signs, such as pollution, “is our physical environment, which is necessary to life
which indicate that something has gone wrong. We are ‘and crucial in the development of technology. The
constantly surprised by technology’s shortcomings; exploitation and misuse of the environment is one of
Dangerously defective tires nullify the safety ad- ' dur most urgent problems.
vantages of mandatory seat belts. Cancer-producing {|, How have past cultures or those in other parts of the
food additives are banned, and later their " world come to terms with nature or arrived at a
replacements are found to be just as lethal. : compromise between the environment and

Technology resembles the Hydro, the awesome. technological progress? Does high technology
nine-headed beast finally slain by Hercules, which, inevitably entail environmental deterioration?
grew two heads from the root of each he struck off. Another apparent precondition of technological

Will we succeed in overcoming our problems as} advance is the size, distribution, and migration of
Hercules did his? Do humans have enough resilience; populations. Some critics maintain that the size of our
to maintain freedom and choice in spite of burgeoning: population and its increasing concentration in urban
technology? . ' areas are primarily responsible for environmental

Assertions and predictions about technology usually! pollution. Others declare that without technological
are based on several assumptions that are difficult if progress the growing populations in developing
not impossible to prove, One is that technological nations will perish. Yet historically, the links between
change ia taking place more rapidly than in the past technological progress and population growth are
Another is that technological change has a much puzzling. ;

greater social impact than ever before. A third is tha What advice, if any, should we give to developing
scientific research and development are exclusively nations? Or, to ourselves?
responsible for present technological Innovations. ; Societal Valueg constitute a third precondition of
A useful w our present situation, 6f ‘technological innovation. For example, gunpowder,
judging het eee eeseing a unique, is to look At invented in China, was not used there for firearms.
technological development in an historical context When it appeared in Western Europe, however,
and in its relation to contemporary problems. This Military engineers immediately grasped its military
series of fifteen articles hag that goal. potentialities.
Three of the most important effects of technologidal © Why do some cultures accept technological in-
advance are‘ the increasing complexity of our ‘ovations that others reject?

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fen ates these preconditions, however, what
elimiutate clogical progress, an or which
“ingtitutio mip ai iityation a AP wt

Humanitarian concerns, the spirit of adventure, or
the wish to transform idleness to active leisure, have
produced some innovations. But the principal agen-
cies of technological innovation are economic activity,
science, engineering, war, and government, although
some economists would maintain that all of these
ultimately can be lumped under economic activity.

The desire to satisfy material needs, individual or
social, has always been a major source of innovation.
In western cultures, luxuries have become necessities
with resulting economic growth. Indeed, some critics
blame the “growth ethic” for beth environmental
deterioration and for the purported decline in the
quality of life.

To what extent is this ethic the cause of our dif-
ficulties?

From small beginnings in the seventeenth century,
scientific research activity has now grown to sub.
stantial size. On the one hand, the rational and ob-
jective approach of scientists provokes criticism; on
the other, the discoveries, which give rise to
technological innovation, cause worry.

How has science grown? What is its interaction with
technology? How do scientists perceive themselves?
And, inasmuch as science receives the credit or blame
for innovation, what is the engineers’ role, and to what
extent should their activities cause concern?’

‘Wear has always encouraged technological in-
novation, not just in the development of new weapons,
but also in stimulating new industries and methods
that have profoundly affected society. Military needs
were the chief stimuli for the development of aircraft,
space ships, and computers.

Similarly, governments have encouraged in-
novations through the patent system, agricultural
experiment stations, and agencies that aid industry.

To what degree does this activity, both military and
civilian, contribute to their present problems?

The subjects described above and the questions
raised comprise the main body of, this series of ar-
ticles, The final three articles will consider both the
past and the future prospect. They will investigate the
nature of inventive activity, the relation of technology
to ethical principles, and the merits and shortcomings
of current attempis to direct the course of
technological development for human purposes. __

Serious public consideration of these issues and
participation in the on-going debates is necessary, For
it is only through our collective wisdom that the
problems concerning technological advance and its
effects can be resolved,

The views expressed in Courses by Newspaper are
those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect
those of the University of California, the National
Endowment for the Humanities, or the participating
newspapers and colleges.

NEXT WEEK: Peter F. Drucker, author of “The
Age of Discontinuity,’ discusses the ‘silent
revolutions” brought about by new technology.