CHAPTER 7

WHEN HUMANITY AND

TECHNOLOGY CROSS
 HUMAN DIGNITY

• Is an ultimate core value of our existence.

• When we fully recognize & appreciate this truth in ourselves & in all
the persons around us, regardless of their status in life, then we pave
the way for a just & progressive society.
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION
OF HUMAN RIGHTS
• The UDHR explicates the
fundamental human rights in
30 articles.
• It outlines inalienable human
rights that are vital and
necessary in the pursuit of
the good life.
• These are the freedoms
everyone entitled to and
guaranteed by virtue of being
human.
The first seven articles of the UDHR encapsulate the spirit of
this so-called “milestone document in the history of human
rights.”

• ARTICLE 1
All human beings are born
free & equal in dignity and
rights. They are endowed
with reason & conscience &
should act towards one
another in a spirit of
brotherhood.
ARTICLE 2
Everyone is entitled to all rights & freedom set
forth in this Declaration, without distinction of
any kind, such as race, color, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national or
social origin, property, birth or other status.
Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on
the basis of the political, jurisdictional or
international status of the country or territory to
which a person belongs, whether it be
independent, trust, non-self-governing or under
any other limitation of sovereignty.

ARTICLE 3
Everyone has the right to life, liberty & security
of person.
ARTICLE 4
No one shall be held in slavery or
servitude; slavery & the slave trade shall
be prohibited in all their forms.

ARTICLE 5
No one shall be subjected to torture or to
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment.

ARTICLE 6
Everyone has the right to recognition
everywhere as a person before the law.
ARTICLE 7
All are equal before the law & are
entitled without any discrimination
to equal protection of the law. All
are entitled to equal protection
against any discrimination in
violation of this Declaration &
against any incitement to such
discrimination.
HUMANS VS. ROBOTS

• The rise of the machines accompanying the progress in science &

technology may render human useless.
• Manual labor is gradually being replaced by machinery.
• Computers become more & more sophisticated.
• The development of society
along with science &
technology gives rise to more &
more complex issues.
• What is vital is that, at the very
least, we are able to protect &
exercise human rights for
everyone in our pursuit of the
good life.
• It is important that amid these
developments, human beings
become more free, more
rational, & more loving in our
practice of science &
technology.
WHY THE FUTURE DOES NOT NEED US
• Our most powerful 21st century
technologies – genetics, nanotech,
and robotics (GNR) – are
threatening to make human an
endangered species. This possible
extinction of the species may
largely come about due to the
unreflective & unquestioning
acceptance of new technologies
by humans.
- Chief scientist & corporate executive
officer of Sun Microsystems, Bill Joy, wrote
in 2000 a controversial essay, “Why the
future does not need us.”
• Science & Technology may be the
highest expression of human
rationality.
• People are able to shape or destroy
the world with it.

• Human nature may be corrupted

when the powers of our mind, our
rationality, and our science &
technology become manifest. If we
are not able to rein in the vanity &
arrogance that such powers unleash,
then we are on the way to destroying
the world.
THANK YOU!!!