PL401 Week 5 Assignment

Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us

To complete your fifth essay,  please write a three- to five-page (600-900 word) response to the  following question:

In “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us” (pp. 285-301), Bill Joy expresses a powerful pessimism about the dangers of technologies that may be developed later in our century. Joy also a muted optimism about humans’ ability to use ethical principles to avoid those dangers. What are Joy’s best reasons for being pessimistic? What are his strongest reasons for expressing optimism? As you consider the relative strengths and weaknesses of those reasons, explain whether and why you find yourself more pessimistic or more optimistic about the issues that Joy raises.

Please ensure that your essay addresses each component of the question assigned question and that your answer is well- organized,  uses excellent, college-level prose, and  makes judicious use of textual evidence. 

Here is the book info:

Winston, M. E., & Edelbach, R. D. (2012). Society, ethics, and technology (4th ed. ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth Publishing Co.