Nature Vs. Technology Essay, Research Paper
Nature Vs. Technology
The ideas expressed in Michel Montaigne’s “On Cannibalism”
are still greatly valid in today’s society. Technology has made
life easier, and as the saying goes, “The more you have, the more
you’ll want.” We are a fast-paced society that does not give much
thought to the world around us. Not only do we not seem to notice
the beauty of nature, but we have started destroying it without a
second thought.
I am living in a society that does not place great emphasis
on the marvelous works of nature. Until very recently, I had
never seen the sun rise. I have become accustomed to waking each
morning to the sound of the alarm clock, turning on the
television to find out the weather, and getting dressed in my
air-conditioned, electrically lit house. There is absolutely no
need to step outside and feel the temperature, or to raise the
blinds for light. By the time I leave my house to rush to my car,
the sun is already up and shining.
People may say that isn’t such a bad thing. They rather
enjoy the comforts that technology offers. I mean, what good
would it do to get up early just to sit on the porch and watch
the sky turn colors? I have found that at this particular time,
when the sky transforms to the most brilliant shades of pink and
purple and melding into radiant hues of orange, peace and
inspiration seem to flood through me. It’s during the early hours
of the morning that I can get true perspective of exactly how
small we all
get, we can never match the wonders of a sunrise. That is
something we can’t imitate or change. It’s beyond all our
understanding and reason.
It used to be that children were content playing outdoors,
enjoying nature the way it was intended. But as times have gotten
more technologically advanced, all they want is the newest
playstation game or the fastest remote-control car. No one is
satisfied with simple things anymore. It is considered
inconvenient to have to do anything for yourself or without some
gadget.
Our society has become so dependent on technology, we would
probably be unable to function without it now. Not all that long
ago, when my mom was a little girl, she didn’t have all the
modern technology we now have. She had to rise in the morning
with the sun, walk to school, and let the wind cool her house.
This now seems like an unbearable situation, but she does have a
greater appreciation for the world around her. She is one of the
few people I know that like to take long walks to just look
around. These are the moments she gets to calm down, think about
things, and gain perspective. She doesn’t have to worry about any
of the things she’s accustomed to doing. As she says, “Nature is
the best vacation.”
Most people don’t give a second thought to the straw wrapper
they throw out their car window, or the cigarette smoke they blow
into the air. We’re now more concerned with ourselves, making
life even easier, even if that means abandoning nature.