von Friedemann Winkler
- Englisch-Klausur (Jahrgang 10)
- 2-stündig
- Note 1
Discuss the issue:
New technologies and highly developed machines: a blessing or a burden for mankind?
Many people believe that new technologies will be able to solve nearly every problem. But the last years have shown that it is not that easy. To discuss this question I would like to deal with the two most important subtopics: For the start I will come to genetic engineering and then I would like to go on with highly developed robots. Finally I am going to conclude the main aspects.
Many people argue that you cannot resign genetic engineering, because genetic diseases and unwanted characteristics can be cured only this way. You could for example clone human embryos to grow organs for transplant operations. Another frequently used argument is that the police could check if you were at the scene of a serious crime by checking your genetic fingerprint. This would make police investigations much easier. On top of that animals could stand colder weather and plants could grow faster and bigger after changing them genetically. Many people hope that GM-food will help to stop the famine throughout the world.
All of this sounds very convincing, but we mustn’t forget that genetic engineering is a very controversial issue, so there are many arguments against it, too.
One of these “contra arguments” is that the world would become overpopulated if you could heal every disease with genetic engineering. Furthermore many people don’t wants to eat genetic modulated food, because they are afraid there are still unknown risks. Another argument many people consider very convincing is that employers could use genetic testing to find out if an employee has a genetic disease, and if he had, he wouldn’t find a job any more. And of course you can find out a lot about somebody by taking his or her genetic fingerprint, but perhaps you don’t want anybody to know everything about you. Somebody could even steel those fingerprints and abuse them. But the most important argument against genetic engineering is that you need to kill many embryos only to clone one organ. Of course this organ will help somebody, but the embryos are human beings, too, and they also have the right to live, don’t they?
In this delicate question of genetic engineering you can see the conflict of traditions and new technologies very well. It is the same with the intelligent robots. If you asked some young, high-tech-fascinated scientists they would tell you something about the overwhelming quality and quantity of robot-made products. Those robots can work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On top of that they will even do the dirty and dangerous work without asking or protesting. Due to this robots can solve some problems more effective than humans. They always think rationally solving problems the most efficient way.
But is this world of robots which can sometimes even reproduce by designing new, higher developed robots really our future? Is it good for us not to do the hard work? I think it isn’t. Humans would degenerate if robots did all the work for them. Another argument against intelligent robots is that they, having no feelings, would always fire somebody who got seriously ill and who really needs the money. He can’t work, so we don’t need him, that’s what the robot thinks. And, as opponents of highly developed machines argue, who understands how a computer or robot is working? I think nearly nobody does and therefore neither anybody would be able to understand robot designed robots nor would anyone have the ability to repair them. Another problem with intelligent robots is that every robot needs a computer program to work. These programs are written by humans and humans make mistakes. Such a little mistake in the program could cause great damage; sometimes, for example when it comes to nuclear technology, it could even risk the life of human beings. And of course the robots can work 24 hours a day, but humans can’t. They’ll fall asleep or injure themselves because they’re tired and not concentrated enough. However, the strongest argument against intelligent robots is that those robots steel our jobs. This could lead to massive unemployment and to a social crisis. A few people will earn the big money, but what will all these workers do being replaced by a machine?
Summing up all those aspects I would say that it is always desirable to improve the comfort and safety of our life, but on the other hand you should bear in mind that you are going too far by killing human embryos to cure illnesses or by replacing human beings by robots to save some money. [781 words]