Technology Case

While it may seem as if the act of reverse engineering the brain will help technology progress, in reality, the human race is losing humanity by performing a procedure like this. As Elbert Hubbard said, "One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man." ("BrainyQuote") Human intelligence is extremely valuable and it should not be replaced, and if reverse engineering the brain takes place, the human race will eventually completely depend on technology. Reverse engineering the brain may lead to artificial intelligence in the future, which may overtake human intelligence. Suhani Desarkar said, "we are still dependent on HI for economic and social progress..., this dependence, however, is steadily declining and with each passing day we are leaning more towards artificial intelligence not only at a macro level to help us develop socially and economically but also at a micro level to help us with our daily chores and tasks." (Desarkar, "Artificial Intelligence Versus Human Intelligence") It is agreeable that artificial intelligence will benefit the human race, but using it for "daily chores and tasks" is not necessary. Humans are capable of doing work, and the thought of not doing work is wrong. What will one sacrifice to create new technology? If one is going to the extent of reverse engineering the brain, to help technology progress, this just goes to show how inhumane the human race has become. Rachel Carson, a marine biologist and conservationist, once said "But man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself." ("searchquotes") Building off of that, one is essentially fighting the society they want to help develop and advance. Going against nature will cause an adverse effect, so instead of developing and advancing, the society will gradually descend. To David Adler, "the existence of human beings is proof enough that humans can be engineered." (Adee 16) By focusing on the fact that humans can be engineered because they exist, Adler overlooks the deeper problem of how the society is dehumanizing, and how sooner or later, the future will consist of adults who will rely on technology and think it is the answer to all their problems. By controlling things that have never been controlled, social boundaries are being crossed. Are there really no boundaries in the pursuit of technological