theme two

who approves knowledge and technology?

by communities of scholars

economic development

means that there's a lot of technology, productivity

where does economic development occur?

everywhere where there's incentive

migration of smarter people

they migrate to countries with more technological advancements

countries with over 10,000 academic papers

us canada uk india china australia

what led to an evolution in the spread of knowledge?

the invention of paper, writing, publishing, and printing

the industrial revolution

when industry that used to be limited became much more advanced across the world due to expanded use of natural resources changed the nature of human life

problems of the industrial revolution

pollution caused by petroleum and greenhouse gases increased cancer rates and illness

humanity's power on earth has...

led to a movement to a new era, the anthropocene

anthro

human

cene

new era

anthropocene

era of history where human beings have become an agent of change on and for the planet

the 1950s

led to a big change in population health, cities, and technology were accessible to most people

how much land do humans manage?

3/4 except the artics

cons of the anthropocene

sea levels rising loss of biodiversity holes in ozone with high co2 levels risks of destabilization of the planet climate change land system change

the era of the anthropocene

the current epoch in which humans and their societies have become a global geophysical forces

geophysical forces

volcanoes, rain, and natural disasters that radically change the earth

humanity

has changed the nature of earth itself

when did the anthropocene begin?

in the 18th century with the rise of western industrialization

nature is

feeling the effects of human actions

pakistan

a third of the country is under water 33 million people have lost everything

european heat waves

uk, sweden, and portugal have had awful heat waves because they dont have acs

anything that affects human life can be...

political

why are decisions are political?

because it can affect millions of people

what is politics concerned with?

with the fate of all people on the planet as individuals, communities, states, etc

affects on the environment...

also impact livelihood and the economy

science is not immune to...

politics

resources

have to be acquired from somewhere

when science advances...

it needs to look for resources

discipline of knowledge

have evolved to better understand the anthropocene many disciplines is trying to contribute to understand it

what role does science play in the anthropocene?

its a lab where all these sciences work to understand what is happening and to know what to do about it

science is a...

collective effort a process to validate knowledge through testing, critiques, and changes

risks on the planet

we have created an understanding of the risks and opportunities on the planet

the first thing to acquire knowledge

comes from an understanding

the internal dynamics of the anthropocene

production/consumption core driven by energy systems and shaped by human societies which are influenced by cultures, institutions, and knowledge

production/consumptions

if nobody consumes, you cannot produce they make up one another through supply and demand

energy systems

you cannot sustain without energy

the world is a...

network of connections

nodes

represent the countries people or groups

edges

the lines that connect nodes represent the interaction between those groups either socially, economically, or politically

what is a feature of human kind?

technology we cannot do without it

the reality of technology

not everyone benefits in the same way and not everyone has access

in order to have technology, you need...

science

humans are now what?

a geophysical force beyond the planet

politics shows us that

humanity thrives across challenges and we will always be useful to politics

can technology be political?

yes because humans drive tech, therefore it is because humans are inherently political

decisions on what is good or bad are?

political

model

a simplification of a collections of concepts that we put together in order to explain or understand something

what is our basic system?

the earth

institutions

rules and norms that are repeatedly used by human beings so that they shape the behavior, thinking, and actions that people often take for grnated

buildings

are not an institution

human beings role in an institution

they are expected to uphold and apply those rules and norms

what is the base of using resources and uphold institutions?

knowledge

interactions between the anthropocene and the earth system

go both ways example: greenhouse gas emissions, resource extractions, and pollutants driving impacts that reverberate through the geosphere and biosphere

the observer and the observed

cannot be separated because of the anthropocene because humans fit both roles

example of a political debate in the anthropocene

abortion rights politics decides whats deemed as alive or not

younger generations vs older generations

younger takes risks, older is wiser

certains tools created by humanity

are no longer in our control things are going too fast and we can no longer stop it

change

can leave people behind or push people to the forefront

knowledge <-> science <-> technology

interact with: population energy institutions political economy production/consumption

understanding the anthropocene

there is no beginning point and no ending point

the anthropocene will always be about what?

politics

there is one

civilization

what separates people?

culture

what drives technological changes?

political changes

what can technological changes generate?

economic growth

are advancements always a good thing?

no economic growth does not meaning that everyone is doing well in a nation

what does technology provide to humanity?

power to improve our lives and communicate across the planet

the interaction between technological and political changes

technological changes --> social and political instability of world politics --> changes in international politics --> economic growth --> reduced resources and economic resources --> technological changes

how to humans determine whether tech is good or bad?

with how they use it

are the effects of technology reversible?

yes

the nuclear bomb

first one was used in the heat of the war, but the second was used for politics to show russia not to mess with the us the threat led to the arms race but after japan, no bombs have been deployed therefore, scholars believe its taboo to use nuclear arms

humanit does act in beneficial ways in the...

long term but can occur in the short time

when do political decisions change?

when context changes

example of political decisions changing

germany wanted to close nuclear power plants but had to keep them open to provide energy to homes during harsh winters

political decisions are made at the...

scale of the world the intention is local but they have consequences that can affect everyone on the planet

why are political decisions made at the scale of the world?

because people are interdependent, with limited resources, and always growing in size

three dimensions of acceleration

technical acceleration acceleration of social change acceleration of the pace of life

what questions has the change in nature led to?

existential questions how do we define life? how do we decide if a person is dead or still alive?

what does technology allow us to do with changes in nature?

take those questions and apply it on a farther scale

technology has led to what kind of acts?

acts with rapid and white ranging ramifications for the international system

examples of technology that had rapid ramifications

electric power internet printing

technology is

a game changer

technology as a game changer

changer of operations of the international system a provider of advantage to different actors in the international system

technology is a source of what?

of risks, issues, or problems for the global community

since technology is rapid, what can it become?

obsolete

identified patterns

advances in scientific knowledge and technological capability that heighten issues, risks, and uncertainties to which they have given rise

technology

any application of organized technical knowledge about the natural world for a practical purpose, or the capacity to develop and use such knowledge

knowledge can equal

authority and power

competing narratives of knowledge

challenge, lead to skepticism, and can have positive or negative effects

imperial and colonial use of science and tech

helped control and administration over distant territories

examples of negative technological impacts

pollution environmental and resource degradation consumerist and capitalist culture cyberwarfare excessive surveillance disparate distribution

the human ability to produce and store info can be seen as what?

a positive hallmark of science and technology

surveillance can be

good and bad security increased vs liberty potentially impinged

examples of positive technological impacts

artifical intelligence medical advancements transportation enhanced communication research and innovatio9n vaccines

bottom up aka the ordinary

lifestyle adjustments to ensure safe technological use

top down aka the elite government

formulate policy, input the management and direct the technical acumen to address ongoing international issues