Author: Jubal Early

On Tuesday, we discussed the scenario in which the FBI requests live feed from police cameras in order to generate a database for matches of known terrorists. the police force, as we were told, complied and granted the FBI access to their feeds. Upon first consideration, it seems as if the police force is acting in a utilitarian manner; assisting the FBI in tracking terrorists seemingly benefits the majority of of the population.  However, as we discussed in class, this case has multiple dimensions that could yield various different implications on citizens.

To further analyze this situation, we must consider whether the police department took proper action in allowing the FBI access to their resources. From a protection of state stand-point, it seems as if the police department acted correctly here. In my opinion, however, the understanding of freedom in a society is a crucial aspect to this case. Gert suggests ten values that everyone shares, as an aspect of moral understanding. Among those values is the value of “not depriving freedom.” This value of moral action applies to the police department  case study in that i believe the police and FBI infringed upon the freedoms of the citizens, and therefore have acted immorally.

In ethics, there is an important distinction to make before determining the morality of an action or event. There must be a define line drawn to prevent the further use of power to exploit subjects. In this case, the FBI must be held and monitored to ensure that their usage of the technology is solely for the purposes for which they requested it. For instance, there was a case back when camera technology was installed on highways for the first time. Back then, if a ticket was sent to a law breaker’s house, the picture of their car was sent with the ticket. In this event, a man was in the car with his mistress, his wife found the picture, and it led to their divorce. As it may seem this man was a scumbag for cheating on his wife, it was also an infringement on his freedom to photograph him and publicize it through distribution.

This pertains to the FBI case in that their use of the pictures of passersby can be used for the good or for the bad. If the FbI were to not draw that line of preserving the rights and freedoms of citizens, then their conduct can take an unethical, exploitative turn.

The use of energy has been common in all of the readings we have discussed thus far. While in class today, we were discussing our feelings about Hank Morgan and his treatment of others. His ability to motivated the masses and persuade them into doing work, and to stop wasting their human power. As i sat there, i began to relate Hank’s experience in the 6th Century with the social changes we have observed between the 19th Century and present day. When Hank arrived in the 6th Century, human power was being wasted; people were unproductive (by Hank’s modern sense of the term). Being from the future, Hank knew that each person was of greater worth than they were at the time. Increasing productivity by giving people greater self-worth and harnessing their power, Hank was able to create enormous amounts of social construction. Similarly, the enslavement of humans in the 19th century was a waste of human power, and it wasn’t until the realization that slaves were capable of more than their current societal worth that social reformation and growth came about.

In “The Connecticut Yankee,” Hank is dropped into the 6th Century where there is no work being done. Hank, coming from the industrial future, views all of the non-workers as lesser humans than he. His judgements are based upon their inability or unwillingness to work and contribute to production. To change this, he begins to educate them, they learn to speak more like he does, and eventually he also puts them to work. These changes that Hank imposed upon the 6th Century people brought them greater value by his standards. Their work and education led to Hank’s heightened opinion of their worth.

This transformation in Hank is similar to the transformation in American society from the days of enslavement to present day. During the 19th Century, slaves were (just as the people seen in Connecticut Yankee) uneducated and underused. The use of human beings as slaves for manual labor was a complete waste of human potential and power. As an underused power source, slaves were looked down upon. Just as Hank looked down upon the “lazy” people, people also looked down upon slaves. A change in perception was created, however, by a realization of their capabilities, just as happened in “The Connecticut Yankee.” As the man-power potential of the slaves was realized, they began to gain more rights and have access to education and language and writing. These elements (also seen in the book) added value to the slaves as they began to gain recognition as humans. As the years passed, the capabilities of slaves was realized, their energy was harnessed, and their powers were used for more constructive systems than that of slavery. And it is through this phenomenon that the link between “The Connecticut Yankee” and American slavery can be drawn as a relationship of human energy and power being harnessed to generate increased production and worth.

The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 displayed the extravagance found in all corners of the globe to some twenty-eight million visitors in six months time. Each country in attendance aimed to amaze visitors, displaying attributes of their culture, both old and new. The World’s Fair is a time for global connection and an opportunity to display technological advancement; the Chicago Fair came with an undertone of competition which served as a precursor to the nationalism and resulting disputes of the 20th Century. The display of innovation and competitive nature of the Fair was considered the first event of the 20th Century, and paved the road for exponential technological growth and innovation for the following century.

The ability to harness nature for energy generation and production was on full display at the World’s Fair. From the vast array of lights lining the White City to the Midway displays, countries were itching to show their innovative abilities and “one-up” the next. The Fair was the first time that countries could display their dominance over others in a collective environment; intimidation was full throttle as the 19th Century came to a close. Most notable was the Krupp firearm building built by Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany. The building consisted of artillery cannons, guns, and military materials that were far beyond their time. The intimidation factor of this German display was evident, it was as if Germany intended to send their subordinates a message of power and progress. The Germans had made great strides in military technology; harnessing energy and nature to increase production and develop new technologies.

America had their own swagger about them, however. The massive city was theorized, and constructed in just under three years, a seemingly unmanageable feat proved feasible by the Americans. The sheer size, beauty, and extravagance provided a mirage of productivity in America; it seemed that Germany was not the only world player that would enter the new century with high hopes of innovation. The egos of Germany, America, and many other countries whom were present at the fair would largely create environment of competition, achievement, and advancement in the 20th Century. As a result of their abilities to increase power through mobilizing man power and harnessing more efficient usages of nature, new world leaders emerged and proved to be a pinnacle piece of 20th Century global affairs.

During the class discussion on Thursday, I chose to travel back to the 1970’s-1980’s in order to take advantage of the technological boom that occurred between that period and present day. During class, I imagined my time travel as solely self-serving; traveling back to that time period having the knowledge I currently have, I would make millions of dollars and lay the foundation for the future of technological, and societal structures. After I left class, I continued to mull this concept over in my head, wondering how an experience like this could not only alter my life, but the history of humans on the larger scale.

As my thought process matured throughout the day, I recognized technology in a broader sense than medicine and vehicles; I began to consider phones, laptops, and the appendages of the modern man that were once a far-off concept. My voyage back through time could evaluate the correlation between the transformation in human behavior and technological progress. Further more, I could warn people of the dangers associated with the dependence on technology. I could direct an entire generation that is doomed for reliance on devices that provide instant gratification, thereby causing happiness, and also suffering. As an optimist about technology, traveling back into time could enable me to advise the next generation of humans on how to coexist in a peaceful relationship with technology, and avoid the exploitation of one or the other.

As an optimist, I value the incentives of continuing technological progress to enhance health care, transportation, etc., but I also recognize the threats posed by the increasing human dependence on technology and the resulting exploitation of humans that has occurred as a result of technological advancement. As a time traveler, i would have the opportunity of warning against the detachment that the next generation would undergo from their immediate surroundings. Via the influx of handheld, portable devices, children and adults would be constantly attached to another world, a very connected one, but neither tangible nor personal. The sense of instant gratification has created an impatient generation, one I could warn against during my voyage. Furthermore, the technological developments have created a non-social generation; hesitant to engage with others in face-to-face contact, but quick to fire off a quick text across the country.

The final goal of my time travel voyage would be to warn against the lethal combination between technological development and warfare. The development of drone warfare technology, distant missile engagement, along with many other advancements in modern warfare have endangered the corners of our globe more than ever. Therefore, despite my optimistic outlook on the potential for technology to benefit the human race, I am very aware of the negative transformations that have occurred since the 80’s as a result of technological progression. My voyage back in time would slow or halt the negative usages of technology, and at the bare minimum, inform those involved of the repercussions that they will yield on future generations.