Abstract
Technology is not only a sign of intelligence but it makes the argument possible that with it technology we can advance on our ability to improve intelligence. Many of things that are synonymous with
being intelligent is simply understanding the way the world works. Knowledge and wisdom, knowing
about something and understanding how that something works. Technology allows us to get through the
day easier, opening up our schedule to learn more if we choose to do so. It also makes the process of
learning less time consuming allowing us to become more efficient learners. We can read at the same
speed today as we did hundreds of years ago but we can write much faster in 2015 than we did 1998. We
have spell checks and refined application making the effort of writing and learning much easier for all
people with access to technology. It can be argued that we are losing something in this new technology
though, a “primitive” women/man would be able to tell you the danger of the jungle where to find food
and how to avoid a predator. You would most likely die if lost in a jungle. Intelligence then is subjective
to the situation but it can be said that with technology we are able to explore information that could never
be obtained without the inventions man has created.
Technology has giving us the opportunity to expand our intellect and gives insight to new intelligence and understanding —by freeing up our time. These opportunities come from generations of scholarly experiments, trial and error, controlled studies and technological innovations. All of these are examples of why a person now can simply know something as a truth without taking the extra time to prove it
so. In essence technologies can help the process of learning become more efficient. The more efficient we
can become, the more knowledge we can retain, and the more intelligent the average person in our society
is. The only problem is not every one benefits from technology and some become less productive.
Technology not only allows us the opportunity to grow our understanding of the physical world
but it is also a demonstration of our intelligence, we are the only living species that invents, creates and
in-visions technology. We as humans for a long duration of time used religion as an antidotal means of
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explaining the world and the meaning of our existence. I see value in religion and maybe something cosmic did happen to reveal itself to the people at that time, I don’t know and I wasn't there. I do know that
people were pretty ignorant then and would do illogical things under the concepts of the church, making
almost all religions look really negative. Since the expectancy of science as a truthful means of explaining
the world Human culture has blossomed into a much more habitable place to exist.
Early technologies such as a wheel made life easier, we see primitive tools that gave humans a
huge “edge” (some of the first tools used where edge tools so pun intended) in terms of survival. This
tells us the first signs of our intelligence is being able to create things that make life easier and better. At
this point in history, we have become really good at creating things that make life so easy we nearly have
to move anymore, this is not so good but more on that later. There is a positive on not having to walk everywhere, mop up every spill or beat out our carpets, we can spend time engaging in our studies and performing activities we enjoy. A major contributor to our ability to organize and absorb and regurgitate information is the computer and the internet. The fact we can sit at a desk and learn an immense amount of
quality information without having to go out into the real world and find it is a huge means to advancing
the system in which we structure the schooling experience. It;s right now being speculated that online
courses will inevitably be the end of physical interaction in a college setting. As we continue to understand the mind and body and what I feel is most important the study of DNA, humans will become extremely intelligent beings.
Ive learned that as far as ancient cultures are concerned the Chinese were ahead of their time
when it came to science, technology, math and culture but also had religion too. They in this sensible understanding differed from the western European folk who felt their spirituality could not be compatible
with there understanding of these other cultural aspects. The Chinese invented many tools, some still used
today, such as a plow for tilling soil, almost every horse accessory including leather saddles, stirrups and
horse shoes. They worked with metals, clay and created porcelain. Much of this helped cultivate their society bring about a much more enlightened time in China, the technology helped give more time for philosophy, science and other higher learning (Chinese inventions).
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When you compare Europe to China at the same time period you will see the negligence of science in Europe inhibited the production of new technology and resulted in a serious lack of higher learning. It wasn’t till Europe embraced science and adopted technologies mainly from China did it start to
enter the renaissance era (Gans, P).
Even with early technologies we see a huge opening for creative and a new depth of thought into
life’s mysteries. It not only seems that technology helps to give more time during the day to think but it
appears that it allows for a new platform for growth in technology to occur. When one thing works well it
may not need to be “tweaked” —don’t reinvent the wheel as they say— but when a technology is not as
efficient as it could be new innovations are created to improve upon the original design. We have paleolithic artifacts such as hammers and hoes and other edge tools. We use the same levers and tools today but
they have evolved to get the job done more efficiently all while standing the test of time. Why a simple
bow and arrow is still a hunting tool today it just has been modernized from a along bow to a recurve bow
to a compound bow.
When it came to a place where man, no longer had to scour the land to survive and could consolidate the days work into 8-12 hour days he had extra time to think. We see great philosophers come out of
eras were they had much free time to develop their theories and concepts. Other influential members of
societies hierarchy recognized that great minds had much to contribute to society and therefor had new
opportunities to expand upon the theories of their mentors i.e. Aristotle learned from Plato and learned
from Socrates this is where the old saying “standing on the shoulders of giants” comes from. Now this
may not appear to be technological driven but I assure you it is. With out a safe society, protection by organized military, defense walls, homes, agriculture and economy, these great thinkers may just have
ended up foraging land for food all day.
It appeared even in 335 B.C. that the great minds influenced and molded other great minds, in
fact Alexander the great was a student of Aristotle and much of his militant success was due to the lessons
and guidance of his mentor. Even in these times with little technology, comparatively speaking in terms
of today’s technologies, we see great intelligence expand from one person to the next and it is apparent
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that royalty saw great value as these controversial thinkers where often recruited as tutors and advisers to
the royal families. Amazingly Aristotle had some of the most accurate representation of human anatomy
and biology up to date. His observations at time where astounding considering the lack of technology at
the time (Aristotle Biography Philosopher).
On the other hand this higher education could be considered a threat, as I will state in my future
paragraphs. It turns out that knowledge is power and exercising that information can get you killed. Interestingly enough higher education is only acceptable in cultural situations, when we see that a higher authority is threatened by intellect and application of intelligence in the form educating and exercising
skills, that brave ponderer may find themselves in a fatal debacle. I can see that today’s technologies may
be used as distraction, many hours are easily wasted playing video games while good minds are not being
filled with the information to make the meek wealthy. If there was such a break through, at any point of
human history, it would be interesting to see what the world governments would do as result of that
change of power. Imagine this, the percentage of lower class America becomes wealthy overnight what
would the wealthy do as result? It’s strange to think about but money can buy education the greatest
scholarly minds in the world can put a dollar amount onto their minds, “I have 200 thousand dollar brain”
a quote from Good Will Hunting. I can almost guarantee that our economic design is intentional and that
the reason world civilizations have almost always had a large lower class and very select upper class is no
coincidence. It’s a system in which many of us are aware is interlay unfair but we have little ability to
change. My point here is that a higher authority combined with cultural stigmas dictate when it is acceptable to advance our society on an intellectual level.
on the other hand people who tested well at video games also tested well at other tasks including
larposcopic surgery as well as multitasked better than those who did not play video games. Though critical thinking is down in the new generation of kids in school and there is speculation this could be result
from to much exposer to new technologies. The best method is to have several areas of mental stimulation
including TV and video games but also incorporating reading and other creative activities and exercise
(Is technology producing…).
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It seems from the lessons history lends us, is that ignorance does indeed combat intelligence. We
know that many great people where put to death for rivaling religious beliefs, an act often leading to execution for the crime of heresy. Why Galileo was sentenced to death for claiming the world is round, a
truth we all except today. As i stated earlier China had religion and science but when this social power,
the Christian church, felt threatened it would take extreme action. It’s these organizations that must be
kept at bay for real knowledge to progress the human race on an intellectual level. We know this is true
because we watch Western Europe’s civilization blossom after the middle ages, things clearly get better
once science is accepted by both the people and the Christian church. Math and Science advanced, new
structures where developed as result, engineering achievements became a possibility, new tools, anatomical art the study of the body and natural science developed. It could be considered that as soon as scientists where allowed to freely study and share their discovers the western world became a much more advanced and better place to live (Spade, P).
With all of these advances new technology is developed with a deeper understanding of the natural world. By using math and physics we can build towers and make tools to help create better machines
to continue to make life a “easier” place to get by but that does that actually make us more intelligent? No
it does not, having technology is a sign of intelligence but is really a product of being intellectual. A person who can hunt track and find plant-based foods is arguable just as intelligent as the person who buys
fast food. Now if a person knows that degenerative diseases are directly associated with laziness and processed food in which case they prefer to hunt for the beneficial stimulation of the body’s bio-chemical
processes and appreciate the fact they can preserve their eyesight by activating specific optic neurons
while scanning the horizon for minuet changes in scenery for potential prey/danger then they would be
considered the higher intellectual out of the two. Ironically it’s the act of the more primitive man but with
biological understanding of today you could be the more intelligent of the two. Even more ironic is the
fact that person can have all the that knowledge of the body but out necessity invest into business like
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McDonalds and complete understand the ins-and-outs of the entire company and process of the food production and still choose not to indulge in that type of eating but deep the finical gains from the company
and that is a true intellectual, with very low moral integrity (Exercise and gene expression:).
It looks like people hit a point of understanding where they build just to prove their greatness,
structures like the pyramids of Giza and the Eiffel Tower are structural engineering achievements that still
draw tourists from around the world. The amount of science and math the Egyptians had at the near dawn
of civilization is baffling scientists to this day, not only are these buildings design mathematical achievements but their relationship with astrology is beyond mind boggling. They are perfect examples of a
flourishing civilization. it is arguable that the intellect of these engineers rival that of our own structural
engineers today. Even more what makes it amazing is the lack of technology they had to erect such a
structure (Landis, D. (2012).).
The astounding discover and compilation of chemicals in the periodic table are huge addition to
human understanding of the physical world. This very thing has allowed us to create vaccines, antibiotics
and many other treatments for life threatening disease. Again increasing the lifespan of the average person
and given more time to increase are knowledge base. Not only does understanding chemicals help us understand medicine but is it helps us create new technologies.
The worst thing that can happen to us as humans is to think we know it all. Science is an ever expanding field and people who have mediocre educations in general science courses begin to think they
know it all! Statements even in this course have been made that are just plain ignorant, statements like
“scientists will always be one step ahead of pollution” are bold statements coming from an undergraduate
student, who probably is not enrolled in environmental science research courses. We as humans need our
top educators and scientists looking into alternative research that allows for change in how we create new
technologies and how to even improve upon the way we teach and learn now. To go back and look at
what has been stated so far, technology helps us accelerate at the rate in which we learn, technology can
have damaging effects to our DNA on many levels but the most negative lifestyle choice is being sedentary and neglecting the physical world and social interactions. DNA is weekend by not expressing our
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physicality to its full potential, we have evolved to move all day. We now know we need to re-program
the technology or innovate both technology and our methods in which we are taught to include more
physicality and social exposure on a regular basis.
It takes intelligence to realize that sometimes technology is the less intelligent approach, one must
conclude that the lifestyle of Paleolithic person, though filled with danger, on a biological level is actually
healthier for human genetics, they were physically stronger, mentally resilient individuals if you where to
take us today and force us to survive our genes would improve —making easy is not the best thing for
people (Fisher R.).
It’s ironic that mistakes and unforeseen environmental issues related to our inventions
could be the thing that actually shows human’s potential in expanding our intelligence and progressing us
in society. Being more mindful about the effects of technology and limiting the hazards that could come
from them, are now serious concerns, that was not the case in early 1900’s. This shows a huge jump in
our foresight and hopefully this mindfulness leads to an overall mind-state of preservation and expansion
of better technologies in the future.
The complex technology based systems have allowed us so many daily conveniences, these conveniences liberate us from having to perform the daily tasks that allow us to survive. By ways of technology we open our schedules for deeper insight into the world and give time for deeper understanding of the
universe and how it came to be. Our technologies aid in our studying and provide enormous amounts of
information. We can save time and then we can apply that free time to the things that matter most to us.
We have as people began to deny and ignore our own biology. We think that we figure out the
most efficient way of developing our minds and making life easier. In recent studies we may have made a
mistake by developing our society in such a poor design. We have opened a door for new disease to develop and spread at a more efficient rate —we can literally send ebola from continent to continent. Our
food production has been linked to new genetic weaknesses in our species and our lack of physical movement on daily basis is linked to premature death and health risks. It is known that without expressing
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these genetic potentials we are creating generation after generation of weaker humans. How is this optimizing our minds if we can’t even identify it as a problem —in fact that is the definition of ignorance and
the opposite of knowledge (Changing the Brain).
Once these issues are addresses and scientists prove what is wrong and right about western civilization the steps can be made to re-introduce the things that strengthen the human race on a genetic level.
New methods of learning while stimulating the mind and body to enhance there performances. New ways
of producing foods to benefit the populations and new programs to optimize our study time and information retention.
There is so much to consider when it comes to Human Beings ability to advance our race. What I
have learned is that technology and intelligence are not synonymous. Again technology is a demonstration of intelligence and in many ways allows to express intelligence through new mediums, it give us opportunity to develop and refine our intellect by opening up our schedules. I would argue that our intelligence is not so different from early Homo Sapiens, we have just had thousands of years to refine our
methods in which we learn. As I pointed out earlier survival on many levels is intelligence the same intelligence that is used when you learn a new software program. Intellect is what has really been gained, the
ability to grow our understanding through observation and experience. Refining our concepts of science,
culture and Humane behavior allows for real progress in our species.
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Work Cited
Fisher, R. (1958). The genetical theory of natural selection. New York: Dover.
CHINESE INVENTIONS. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2015, from http://www.vhinkle.com/china/inventions.html
Landis, D. (2012). The genius of ancient man: Evolution's nightmare. Green Forest, AR: Master
Books.
This book looks at the intelligence of early homo sapiens and compares the technological and intellectual
achievements of early man to modern man and in an astounding comparison put light to the fact that early
man showed if not the same level of intelligence and ingenuity but possibly and even greater amount of
skill cultivation.
Gans, P. (n.d.). Technology in the Medieval Age. Retrieved February 7, 2015, from
http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/pabacker/history/middle.htm
Is technology producing a decline in critical thinking and analysis? (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/is-technology-producing-a-decline-79127
discusses studies between technology and the young generations critical thinking. it also makes comparisons between people who played video games and their ability to multi-task and preform laparoscopic
surgery.
Toward a Design Science of Education. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-77750-9_2#page-1
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This paper shows that new technology is being implemented in class rooms and the study is too see what
effects these technologies have on learning and information retention. It allows me to argue that there is
potential benefits to using technology in education.
Changing the Brain: The Impact of a Sedentary Lifestyle. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from
https://www.nicabm.com/nicabmblog/changing-the-brain-the-impact-of-laziness/
This article shows that inactivity is not only unhealthy but effects the neural pathways and mental health.
I can use this as evidence to argue that sedentary lifestyle is associated with “mental fogginess”.
Exercise and gene expression: Physiological regulation of the human genome through physical activity.
(2004, January 1). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/jphysiol.2002.019265/full
This paper shows the human genome has maladapted to sedentary lifestyle and implicates that the link
between genetic disease and the reduced activity level is direct connected. I use to show that technology
can be a unintelligent design unless used in conjunction with movement.
Exercise impacts brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasticity by engaging mechanisms of epigenetic regulation. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.14609568.2010.07508.x/abstract?deniedAccessCustomisedMessage=&userIsAuthenticated=false
A perfect example of epigenetic and how learning and exercise are linked together through a variety of biological process that occur in the human body. I can use this as evidence that the potential intelligence of human can be raised through physical activity.
Meyrowitz, J. (n.d.). No Sense of Place: The Impact of Electronic Media on Social Behavior. Retrieved
April 23, 2015, from
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https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ORh4ATg9WeIC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=social media
ignorance&ots=S5gm3DwZMZ&sig=rOyRO703kP0198Bl5B4RcV3G788#v=onepage&q&f=false
In this book the social dynamics of the new social technologies are addressed, what is and what isn’t exemptible social behavior, what was and what is no longer taboo, social norms and stigmas are identified
and what is changing about social behaviors in the world today based on social technologies is all discussed in this book. I can use this information to discuss and identify how these technologies are contributing to both good and bad behavior in today’s society.
Aristotle Biography Philosopher (c. 384 BCE–c. 322 BCE). (n.d.). Retrieved April 25, 2015, from
http://www.biography.com/people/aristotle-9188415
Spade, P. (2004, August 3). Medieval Philosophy. Retrieved February 6, 2015, from
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/medieval-philosophy/
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