FREE ESSAY ON MARX

MARX

Many people today assume automatically that technology is progress. Still, there is some
criticism of this view in America, partially because of 20th century wars and arms races.
Marx visited China in 1984, and it seemed as though the Chinese were incredibly
optimistic about western technology, and had little sense any problems that technology
might create. Where did this idea of technology as progress come from, and where do the
roots of distrust of technology come from? 
Early Americans like Ben Franklin saw technology as a means to achieving social and
political liberation for the masses; it was part of the revolt from authoritarianism. If
some technology, especially the factory system, would jeopardize these social and
political goals, then that thing isn't worth its price in quality of life and should be
rejected. 
As America became more industrialized, the new industrialists who had both money and
power came to see the technology which they helped produce as an end in itself, or as a
means to more purely economic ends. The used phrases like manifest destiny and the
conquest of nature to help justify the increasing forces of technology, even at the cost
of the environment or Native Americans, all in the name of civilization. Technological
advancement is seen as advancement, period, regardless of what social and political
changes it might bring. There was a great deal of optimism that if we continue to make
scientific innovations, the rest--quality of life, and social and political ideals--will
take care of itself automatically. The technocratic ideal, which sees everything as parts
of the machine, began to take control, and humanitarian goals like justice, freedom, and
self-fulfillment became secondary. Technology was accepted unquestioningly, and
efficiency and scientific progress were the main goals. This is the stage that the
Chinese seem to be at, says Marx. 
However, there was some backlash from the technocratic view. Emerson, Thoreau, and others
questioned whether we were remaking America for the better, and whether we were beginning
to almost worship technology. They questioned whether new inventions were improved means
to unimproved ends (p. 12), and whether we're becoming the tools of our tools (p. 12). 
However, it was hard to take this too seriously when rapid improvements were being made
in the material conditions of life. Today, as we're becoming aware of some of the
unintended effects of technology, many people are starting to wonder if technology is
always a good thing. Is technology better used as a tool for social and political
progress, or is it instead an end in itself? Moreover, can technology cure all of our
social and political problems (for example, SDI)? The early notion of progress which saw
technology as a mere means to more important ends provided natural limits, and a way of
assessing particular pieces of technology. If, however, we view technology as an end in
itself, we're not led to ever question its value or place any limits on it. Marx thinks
we need to consider what we want our technologies to accomplish. Does technology mean
progress? Progress toward what, Marx asks. What are our goals? When we answer that
question, we can see that technology does not automatically mean progress toward those
goals