The Dangers of Man

The following is a passage from Hans Jonas’s writing Technology and Responsibility. I thought this passage tied in nicely with what we are discussing in class. This passage talks about how man has taken over the earth and has learned how to use it for their own needs. As a result man has become selfish and is ruling over all the earth’s inabitants (animals, resources, etc.) as well. Now the earth and all its specises are suffering because of man.

“Many the wonders but nothing more wondrous than man. This thing crosses the sea in the winter’s storm, making his path through the roaring waves. And she the greatest of gods, the Earth – deathless she is, and unwearied – he wears her away as the ploughs go up and down from year to year and his mules turn up the soil. The tribes of the lighthearted birds he ensnares, and the races of all the wild beasts and the salty brood of the sea, with the twisted mesh of his nets, he leads captive, this clever man. He controls with craft the beasts of the open air, who roam the hills. The horse with his shaggy mane he holds and harnesses, yoked about the neck, and the strong bull of the mountain. Speech and thought like the wind and the feelings that make the town, he has taught himself, and shelter against the cold, refuge from rain. Ever resourceful is he. He faces no future helpless. Only against death shall he call for aid in vain. But from baffling maladies has he contrived escape. Clever beyond all dreams the inventive craft that he has which may drive him one time or another to well or ill. When he honors the laws of the land the gods’ sworn right high indeed in his city; but stateless the man who dares to do what is shameful” (Jonas, pg. 174).