Since my student years, I have loved working on technological solutions to problems. Because of this, I have also been drawn to the heroes of technology. These heroes include everyone from underappreciated creators to big impact entrepreneurs. But learning more about the world and the incentives of many such heroes in it, I am encountering a dissonance.
How to reconcile my love for technological growth with inner voices that, many times, stand against it? The child in me wants us to develop a space colony as soon as possible, but I can't ignore the costs of some of the ways these developments get done. In a world where other lives are not important at all, you can solve most problems easily. You just need to amass power and disregard all of the societal and ethical constraints. Most of the whats can be 'done' once we set our minds to them. But with technology, it's not so much about what, but when and how. What is easy, How is hard.
Does it make sense to respect technological advances only on the merit of the details of the work? There was a lot of rapid advances made in Nazi Germany, does that necessitate the creation of a similar environment for similar outcomes?
At times, I wonder if I have fallen out of love with technology–or if technology has left me behind. Maybe these questions are ways to justify me not working towards a grand vision at the moment. But it's more likely a phase of reflection—specially with me not taking up a day job right now—that's making me wonder more about my focus. I don't have an answer right now, but I believe I will figure out how to love technology again. Even if it takes a while.