SCI001, Science Technology & Society Vincentian Learning Module

The Information Age

LESSON 11

OVERVIEW

Information is wealth. In the world where we are living, every data is a

vital piece that drives the market, politics and society.
With the importance of data, we are task to wonder how the revolution of
its relevance created a great impact to our world.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this module, you will:

1. Link learned concepts to the development of the information

age and its impact on society
2. Illustrate how the social media and the information age have
impacted our lives

LEARNING CONTENT AND SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS (SAQs)

SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTION 1

What personal experiences as a human person do you think

is substantial to the continuation and prosperity of the
globe?

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On the other hand, another point that we need to reflect on is the

questions “Why Humans Run the world?” or do we?
History Professor Yuval Noah Harari Sapiens: A Brief History of
Mankind  — explains why humans have dominated Earth. The
reason is not what you might expect.

There were no humans around 70,000 years ago. To understand

prehistoric humanity, you need to recognize that they were not
important. They had a far smaller impact on the planet than jellyfish,
woodpeckers, or bumblebees, but they still had an impact.
Humans, on the other hand, now rule the world. How did we get from
where we were to where we are? How did we go from being a small group
of apes living in a remote part of Africa to being the most powerful
species on the planet?
When it comes to comparing ourselves to other animals, we tend to focus
on the individual differences. As humans, we want to believe that our
bodies and minds are superior to those of dogs, pigs, and other
nonhuman primates. Humans, on the other hand, are uncomfortably
similar to chimpanzees when it comes to their own behavior. The
chimpanzee is the clear winner when it comes to a one-on-one island
battle between me and a chimpanzee.
Collectively, humans and animals are vastly different. People rule the
planet because humans are the only species capable of working together
in huge groups with ease. For the most part, big groups of ants or bees
may work together in a highly rigorous manner. Bees can't just change
their social system overnight to deal with a new threat or opportunity in
their hive. Because of this, they are unable to, for example, kill the queen
and form a republic. It is possible for wolves and chimpanzees to work
together effectively, but only with small groups of people they know well.
Cooperation among wolves and chimpanzees is primarily dependent on
personal relationships. The only way that I can work with you as a
chimpanzee is if I am able to get to know you as an individual. If so, I'd
like to get to know you better. Is it possible that you're a chimpanzee? If I
don't know you, how can I work with you?
Only humans are capable of collaborating with an infinite number of
strangers in novel and creative ways. Individually or in groups of 10, we

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may be better than chimps. It's easy for Sapiens to win when they face
1,000 chimpanzees, because they can't successfully work together as a
group. Chaos will ensue if 100,000 chimpanzees are unleashed on Wall
Street or Yankee Stadium. There will be trade networks and sporting
competitions if there are 100,000 people in the area.
Of course, cooperation isn't always pleasant. Mass cooperation is also
responsible for all of humanity's most heinous deeds throughout history.
There are other systems of mass cooperation in prisons and
slaughterhouses. Prisons, slaughterhouses, and concentration camps do
not exist in the chimpanzee world.
How is it that humans are the only species capable of cooperating in big
groups, whether for play, trade, or slaughter, while the rest of the animal
kingdom is incapable? It is up to us to come up with the answer. By
inventing and disseminating fictional stories, we can collaborate with
many strangers because we can convince millions of strangers to believe
in them. As long as we all adhere to the same set of rules, we can work
together efficiently.
This can only be done by humans. A chimpanzee will never give you a
banana if you promise him a banana in Chimpanzee Heaven for his good
deeds upon his death. A chimpanzee will never believe this. This type of
story is only believed by humans, not the rest of the animal kingdom.
When it comes to human dominance, the chimpanzees are cooped up in
zoos and research labs.
Religions' networks of cooperation are based on false stories, and it is
quite easy to accept this. People join forces to build a cathedral or go on
a crusade because they believe in the same stories about God and
Heaven. Similarly, all large-scale human cooperation is the same. Legal
systems are an example. This idea in human rights is the basis for most
legal systems today. Human rights, like God and Heaven, are a myth.
Humans, like chimpanzees and wolves, have no rights in the actual
world. You won't discover any rights in a human body if you cut it open.
When we tell each other our stories, human rights are a reality. A story
about human rights can be incredibly appealing, but it is just a story.
Politics operates on the same premise. Nations, like gods and human
rights, are just that: a fabrication. An actual mountain is there. Whether
you're able to see, touch or smell it, it's there. There is no such thing as
the United States or Israel, though. You can't see them, touch them, or

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even smell them since they are invisible. They're just stories that people
came up with and were attracted to, which is why they're so popular.
Economic networks of collaboration are the same. For example, consider
a one-dollar bill. It's worthless on its own. In order to use it, you must
not eat, drink, or even wear it. As a result, certain skilled storytellers,
such as Chairman Bernanke and President Obama, have convinced us
that this green piece of paper is worth five bananas. You may get five
bananas for five bananas as long as people believe this claim A perfect
stranger who I've never met before will receive genuine bananas in
exchange for a useless piece of paper. Chimpanzees aren't so easy.
Indeed, money is one of the most effective fictions ever devised by
mankind. The United States of America, human rights, and God are not
universal beliefs. The dollar bill, on the other hand, is universally
accepted as the currency of choice. Even Osama bin Laden is a fan. His
dislike for American religion, political parties or society was tempered by
his fondness for American currency. That story was fine with him.
We people, on the other hand, live in a dual world, a place where we are
surrounded by rivers, trees, and lions. All of these things can be found
on our planet. There is a second layer of make-believe reality, which
includes imaginary entities such as the European Union, God, currency
and human rights.
They've grown progressively more strong over time, and today they're the
most powerful forces on Earth. When it comes to preserving our natural
world, we must rely on our own imaginations, not on real-world entities
like the United States or even the World Bank.
Still at the end of it all no one’s influence is higher than God.

SELF ASSESSMENT QUESTION 2

Which point of view do you believe more? That the World doesn’t need Humans or that
Humans Run (dominate) the world?
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KEY POINTS
1 Humans are indeed being replaced by artificial intelligence and
innovations however this are build by humans so the concept
showed is actually, humans are replacing other humans job.
2 They've grown progressively more strong over time, and today
they're the most powerful forces on Earth. When it comes to
preserving our natural world, we must rely on our own
imaginations, not on real-world entities like the United States or
even the World Bank.
3 People rule the planet because humans are the only species
capable of working together in huge groups with ease.

END OF LESSON ASSESSMENT

Name: _____________________________________ Course/Yr/Section: ______________ Date: ____________

Try the following scenarios and explain your experiences. 5
Instruction. Detach yourself from technology for the stated minutes. No
cellphone, laptop, television or any electronic equipment including appliances.
Time your self and describe your experience.
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REFERENCES

Books and Online Sources

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Happy_Human_black.svg.

Nast, Condé. "Why the Future Doesn't Need Us." Wired. Last modified
April 1, 2000. https://www.wired.com/2000/04/joy-2/.

""Why The Future Doesn't Need Us" Summary." Woodall, Benjamin

English 1200. Accessed November 15, 2021.
https://woodallbenjamin.blogspot.com/2011/09/why-future-doesnt-
need-us-summary.html.

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