Ethics of Technology
The Role of Technology in Shaping Human Identity
It was Sunday morning when sitting at the corner of Starbucks cafe sipping on my favorite grande latte with touch of cinnamon chatting with my friend. The start of our conversation was open ended; life!
Suddenly our conversation drifted towards technology. At that moment we both realized that the our discussion was no longer casual as we both pondered the question:
How is the rapid advancement of technology affecting our sense of self and community?
Before we go any further, let’s rewind a bit.
It wasn’t long ago when our identities were deeply hitched to our surrounding environments as well as immediate social circles. Fast forward, now our sense of self has indeed expanded way beyond our local communities; that is thanks to the technology.
Today we have digital persona, online communities, and connections that extend worldwide. This in many ways have united us the people, yet paradoxically has also created a sense of disconnection from one another.
Martin Heidegger, a German philosopher whose sentiments on technology resonates with modern citizens today as they were in the mid-20th century said once:
“Technology, if not approached…
