An Argument Against Technological Advancement

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Thesis statement
Works Cited

Introduction

The comparative analysis essay is based on Dave Eggerss The Circle, James John Bells Exploring the Singularity and John Cheevers The Enormous Radio. From the chosen texts, it is evident that the authors are not amused by the modern technological advancements and prefers a satirical opinion of the same.

Thesis statement

The advancement of modern technology has violated the right to privacy, secrecy, and security.

Audiences and purpose of the texts

The texts target technology enthusiasts and the general public population as the audience. Dave Eggerss book The Circle provides an insight into how modern technology is affecting secrecy and privacy.

On the other hand, James John Bell agrees with Eggers assertions about modern technology in the article Exploring the Singularity. Bells is of the view that technological evolution is unpredictable due to the rapid changes associated with the same. John Cheever provides an example of how technology disrupts normal life as evidenced in the article The Enormous Radio.

Summaries

Eggerss description of the books title as The Circle is similar to that of the company. Eggerss arguments involve the assumption that the use of modern technology especially by the corporate world is a struggle for power. Eggers expose the mans urge to experience all aspects of human life.

Maes work experience in The Circle exposes the character to a world of transparency. The level of transparency required of an inner member of The Circle is very high. In this context, Maes privacy is exposed to social media enthusiasts and the public. For example, Maes movement even in the confine of a bathroom is monitored through the cameras. In the end, Egger seems to portray Egger as a naive girl who is not reluctant to surrender every bit of her personal life to The Circle.

In Bells Exploring the Singularity, the author tries to depict a rapid change in technology that is uncontrollable. Bell envisions a rapid progression of about 20,000 years in the twenty-first century. For this to happen, Bell argues that biological and nonbiological entities in biorobotics, plants and animals will require merging (Bell 193).

According to Bell, software-based life and atom-sized machines will be a common feature in the future. In this context, Bell includes an opinion from Einsteins philosophy of space and time. Also, the author uses Moores law to explain singularity after failing to define the same from a technological perspective. Moreover, the author predicts the advancement of technology by describing how nanotech will play a major role in promoting singularity.

Bell is not confined to a pro-technology argument but points to a probable negative impact of the technology. In this regard, the author draws evidence from other discussions regarding knowledge-enable mass destruction. In this context, the author asserts the use of nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) and genetics, nanotechnology and robotics (GNR) as the major threats of human existence (Bell 195).

Today, the use of GNR technologies in counterterrorism activities endangers the sovereignty of nations. Apparently, the use of technology in spying other countries violates international law on a states right to privacy, secrecy, and security.

In John Cheevers The Enormous Radio, the author uses characters that are fascinated by emerging radio technology. Cheever, who is fond of using realism and fantasy in his work, depicts a couple living in the fantasy world of classical music. The character uses the characters of Jim and Irene Wescott to imply how the young and educated are fascinated by technology.

Initially, the radio gave the couple a significant level of comfort before the gadget spoiled. Consequently, Irene views the new radio as an aggressive intruder. Apparently, the new radio exposes the couple to new stations. In the beginning, the couple is surprised by the radios high volume. From the radio, Irene learns that people expose their financial, social and sexual anxieties through new songs and talk shows.

Although the couple agrees that the new radio is exposing them to a weird world, they still keep the new instrument. At one point, Jim asks the wife. Why do you have to listen to this stuff if it makes you miserable? (Cheever 247) Cheevers ability to capture peoples reaction to technological advancement exposes the fear of losing the right to privacy and secrecy.

Rhetoric analysis

The use of ethos, pathos, and logos is evidenced in all texts. The authors seem to use rhetorical appeals to emphasize more on the arguments related to the topic of discussion.

Dave Eggers is a reputable author and knowledgeable in both corporate and technological concepts. The authors ability to provide a book that is heavily, self-consciously integrated with parallel-world verisimilitude is intriguing and convincing to the audience. Eggers portrayal of the three wise men (Eggers 19) allows the audience to relate the same with the worlds largest technology companies such as Google, Facebook, and Apple.

Eggers uses pathos to draw the audiences attention emotionally. Eggers uses criticism as an effectively appealing strategy. The author understands the importance of terms such as delicious and exhilarating to provoke the emotions of the audience (Eggers 192). The author tries to explain how the characters involvement with The Circle was emotion-wrecking. In this context, the author asserts that Maes feeling was a scream muffled by fathomless waters, that high-pitched scream of a million drowned voices (375).

On the other hand, Eggers use of logos is effective in providing a logical text. The chronological portrayal of Maes journey within The Circle is easy for the audience to understand. The use of technical terms in the text is familiar with the audience. In fact, the audience relates to the familiar journey of Mae in dealing with social media.

Bells use of the authoritative tone in Exploring the Singularity is effective and makes the author appear knowledgeable. In addition, the familiarity of the author with modern technological advancement is convincing to the audience. For example, the mentioning of GNR technologies and nanotechnology convinces the audience of the authors competence (Bell 195).

The use of pathos in Bells text is effectively used as evidenced by the authors intention to create fear among the audience. The author is not reluctant in making the audience believe the dangers of GNR technologies or toxic spills. The author uses undertones such as terrorism and recession to create anxiety among the audience.

Bell uses logos to ensure that his arguments make logic to the audience. The authors strategy of defining the singularity from scientific, mathematical and technological perspective proves sensible to the audience. In addition, the authors draws arguments from notable scientists such as Gordon Moore, Einstein, and Bill Joy to prove his arguments as correct.

The authors use of examples from theories and laws associated with nanotechnology as expressed by the Progress Action Coalition and the Foreign Institute and Progress does not contradict the Bells use of logic (195).

Cheevers use of ethos in The Enormous Radio is extremely effective. For example, Cheevers description of Jim and Irene Wescott implies the authors familiarity with American history. The authors description of how radio technology developed convinces the audience of Cheevers competence.

Cheever uses pathos to engage the audiences emotions by personifying the radio technology. In this context, Cheever terms the radio as sensitive and unpredictable (Cheever 192). The audience is intrigued by the author calling the radio the aggressive intruder (196). The constant argument between Jim and Irene draws the audiences interest in understanding the genesis of the couples troubles.

The use of logos in the text is not as intense as expected since the storyline is based on a couples ignorance of the obvious. In this context, the couples ignorance of the current technological advancement makes sense to the audience once the characters get uncomfortable with the same. However, the logic of technology destroying the social norm cannot be ignored by the audience.

Understanding of the topic

The texts have been critical to understanding the social impact of modern technology. Eggerss text is fundamental in understanding how social media is destructive as it exposes an individuals life to the rest of the world. On the other hand, Bells text explains how the advancement of warfare-related technology is a threat to human existence. Finally, Cheevers text gives an insight into how mans lack of technological knowledge is dangerous.

Does technology violate the right to privacy and security?

While technology does violate mans right to privacy and security, the same advancement can be used for beneficial purposes. It is important to acknowledge that technological advancement is not ending in the future. Therefore, a need to research and control the development of modern technology is important.

Works Cited

Bell, J. James. Exploring the singularity. Evolving ideas focused inquiry 2014-2015. Ed. VCU. Texas: Hayden, 2014. 193-196. Print.

Cheever, John. The enormous radio: and other stories. New York: Harper & Row, 1965. Print.

Eggers, Dave. The circle. New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2013. Print.

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