Reflection #8: Nuclear Technology

Nuclear power and nuclear weapons what were discussed in class. I believe there is a big difference in nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Nuclear technology can be turned into weapons. When I think about the world nuclear, whatever context it may be, I always think about Chernobyl. The nuclear technology in this circumstance turned into devastation. Many people lost their lives and people are still feeling the effects now. I strongly believe nuclear technology can be used for something good. Nuclear power can definitely change the route this world is leading. We can save the environment and make a big difference for future generations. 

I still feel there is much more that I can learn about nuclear power before I make an educated opinion about it. Although nuclear weapons have caused destruction and taken millions of lives, nuclear power may do good things for many more. 

If we are going to convert just to nuclear power, we need to have strict regulations and laws on how it is used and how much is used. Just as any other technology, it can be used for good just as much for bad. There has to be balance.

Reflection #7: Gender and Inequality

     In our discussions of last week’s class, we talked about the topic of gender and what role it plays with technology and its advances. One point that really stuck with me was the slide show that involved Dame “Steve” Shirley. Shirley was a very innovative woman who made great contributions to technological advances not only because she changed her name to Steve, a man’s name, but disguised herself as a man by not showing her face and only her work. She was gladly let into the technological race, not because of her assertiveness and intellectual mind, but because she was portrayed as a man. If the people in power would have found out she was a woman, she would not have been received with open arms. It is sad to know that in order to climb the social and power ladder, one has to be a man.  Gender has become a huge divide when competing in the technology age. Historically women have been degraded and dehumanized by men and have been ostricized for being women.

     What I don’t understand is why we as a society keep on making gender such a big issue if we come from a woman. We should treat women the same as we treat men. Women deserved respect and recognition for their efforts and hard work in any type of field, especially technology because it is male driven. The status quo needs to be changed.

     Another topic dicussed in class was DNA and technology. One main question was: does technological advances in DNA help or not help? My answer to that is the DNA does indeed help to get core evidence in cases but can seem abstract at times. I don’t think that DNA will change the whole aspect of the judicial system, but it can definitely bring concrete answers to the table. If there hadn’t been a racial issue or conflict of interest in the O.J. Simpson case, and the DNA was able to be admitted to the trial, then we would have had a different verdict. That is my opinion on that case.

Reflection #7: Distributive justice

     As we talked about in class, distributive justice, remains to be an abstract term. In definition, according to an online dictionary, is distributing rewards and punishments to everyone according to his merits or demerits. The United States has this type of system, or at least thats what it says it has. We supposedly live in a society where people are punished for their negative actions or rewarded for their positive ones. It is difficult to say in a time like this. What are we doing to those companies that gave out loans and money to everyone without thinking it through. Now, taxpayers will have to suffer their mistakes and ignorant moves. The government is just going to pardon those companies that gave out all that money and just take out money from the federal reserve to make it all better? That doesn’t sound like distributive justice to me. Our country lives by the crede of economic growth. but that economic growth that everyone wants is now bringing more poverty to more people. It is said that it will cost the average american $4000 to pay off the 700 billion that will be given out. I didn’t do anything wrong for the government to take $4000 of my hard earned money to help out ignorant companies. I understand helping out your fellow man, but this is just too much.

     We also talked about utilitarianism, a philisophical term, which basically means “the greatest good for the greatest number”. I do not think that we as a society cannot live in a utilitarianismsociety because everyone has differnent wants and needs. We are very diverse and what might be good for someone might not be for someone else. It would be too difficult to even try to incorporate such a system. This economical decline just goes to show that utilitarianism cannot live here.