-Stanford students are widely known to possess a sense of intellectual vitality. Tell us about an idea or an experience you have had that you find intellectually engaging. (2575)
"The unexamined life is not worth living."-Socrates.
These words have resonated with me ever since I first heard them. This statement poses a question, about our human tendency to examine the world around us, and whether our use of technology is beneficial to society. Although the accrual of knowledge is both dangerous and unprecedented, I believe that it is more important for us to aspire to step outside our self defined borders and accept the drawbacks than to sit back and be ignorant to the world around us. The thirst for knowledge is only dangerous if it is reckless and purposeless.
In the novel Frankenstein, Victor irresponsibly seeks after knowledge for no good other than his own curiosity. His ruthless pursuit of knowledge results in a destructive monster that drives him to insanity. Indeed Frankenstein shows us how reckless lust for knowledge can prove dangerous, yet that doesn't mean knowledge should simply not be sought after. If we aren't willing to take any risks, society will never improve.
In an article by Neil Postman, "Informing Ourselves to Death," Postman asserts that, "The human dilemma is as it has always been, and we solve nothing fundamental by cloaking ourselves in technological glory." While an overload of information and technology are not crucial to our basic needs, if we never look for anything greater than ourselves then we will never be grateful for having what we do have, and ultimately it is a life "unworth living."
Despite the fact that Prometheus tales have been taught to us since day one about he who tried to play God and failed miserably, nevertheless when we test our natural boundaries we can learn something very valuable. If responsibly sought after, it can either make us more grateful for having what we already have, or lead us to new innovations that expand the boundaries of the natural human world.
"The unexamined life is not worth living."-Socrates.
These words have resonated with me ever since I first heard them. This statement poses a question, about our human tendency to examine the world around us, and whether our use of technology is beneficial to society. Although the accrual of knowledge is both dangerous and unprecedented, I believe that it is more important for us to aspire to step outside our self defined borders and accept the drawbacks than to sit back and be ignorant to the world around us. The thirst for knowledge is only dangerous if it is reckless and purposeless.
In the novel Frankenstein, Victor irresponsibly seeks after knowledge for no good other than his own curiosity. His ruthless pursuit of knowledge results in a destructive monster that drives him to insanity. Indeed Frankenstein shows us how reckless lust for knowledge can prove dangerous, yet that doesn't mean knowledge should simply not be sought after. If we aren't willing to take any risks, society will never improve.
In an article by Neil Postman, "Informing Ourselves to Death," Postman asserts that, "The human dilemma is as it has always been, and we solve nothing fundamental by cloaking ourselves in technological glory." While an overload of information and technology are not crucial to our basic needs, if we never look for anything greater than ourselves then we will never be grateful for having what we do have, and ultimately it is a life "unworth living."
Despite the fact that Prometheus tales have been taught to us since day one about he who tried to play God and failed miserably, nevertheless when we test our natural boundaries we can learn something very valuable. If responsibly sought after, it can either make us more grateful for having what we already have, or lead us to new innovations that expand the boundaries of the natural human world.
