<p>*"It has been often said that rapid technological change requires us to change our morals, customs, and institutions. This observation is believable only if we assume that humantiy was made for the machine, not the machine for humanity. If anything, technological progress makes our sense of tradition more necessary than ever.</p>
<p>Maintaining traditions is not (or need not be) merely a resistance to change, but a positive attachment to some particular was of life and the community that embodies it.</p>
<ul>
<li>Adapted from Karl Jahn, "Tradition and Progress"*</li>
</ul>
<p>In the above excerpt, Jahn argues that we do not have to change our traditions to keep pace with technological changes. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this position? Support your position with reasons and examples from your own experience, reading, and observations. </p>
<pre><code> The technological turmoil that runs rampant is far from being a burden. Constant changing and improving it is the very embodiment of how humans change for the better. However, every positive action has its supposed opposite reaction: the very changes that is soaking into society has troubled some to believe that traditional values and beliefs will atrophy, forgotten in the midst of time - a believe to be untrue. There are numerous instances of where social customs have altogether grown stronger and more cohesive in the face of such adversity. These examples pertain to religion and culture.
With the fall of hte roman Empire, Christianity swept Europe with its religious credo, rousing citizens of all social rank to believe in an almight saviour. This belief was strengthened by the priest and pastors of the Medieval times, and still stands strong today. Furthermore, factions under Christianity have become so numerous that on may now be considered both "Christian" and "Catholic" without knowing the difference between the two! Surely, these antiquated religions have remained firm with their moral pillars of support. Even in modern society these pillars have not wavered, remaining immutable through global and economic crises - notably the 9/11 attack, when the powers of belief were needed more than ever.
Moreover, traditional cultures that have been established hundreds, even thousands of years old, have survived the technological advancements that shook our world to its core. Like religion, many of the cultures remained firm, and divided into subdivisions, with each partition calling itself a unique name and establishing its particular doctrine. Cultural identity has further assimilate technological advances; the Chinese culture, which relatively recently opened itself after the death of Mao, has absorbed and attract technology and ideas from around the world and adding onto its original image as an unflappable nation.
What humanity needs to stay strong it not the greatest nuclear bombs stockpiled in a storm shelter, but rather a strong will to continue the tradition. This does not imply that change is detrimental to society, but traditions cannot simply be tossed away like a rag doll. No, it is by keeping the flame of tradition alive that we can continue to face the future while learning from the past.
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<p>Be brutal, and point out every error! :D</p>