[1]
In his 1841 essay "Self-Reliance, "Ralph Waldo Emerson who was born,in Boston, 16 wrote: " The civilized man has built a coach, but has lost the use of his feet." For Emerson, civilization's "advances" may make our lives easier, but they also led us further from a fundamental understanding of ourselves and the world. What might the philosopher think of the technological dependence we contemporary Americans have? 17
[2]
If we are hungry, wanting 18 something to eat,we don't have to cultivate our food; we simply hop in the car and drive to the nearest fast-food restaurant. Even if we're feeling more domestic and wanted 19 to cook at home. The 20 food comes not from our own fields and labor, but from the supermarket. In our kitchen, we pop a frozen dinner into our microwave, and in minutes we're ready to eat. Therefore, 21 we could save ourselves even this minimal effort by calling out and having a pizza delivered.
[3]
We no longer have to rely on ourselves for providing us with 22 entertainment. Rather than 23 playing music and telling stories in the living room after dinner, we huddle around our color TV and choose from scores of channel selections. And if we happen to be occupied with something else when our favorite show comes on, we only need set our VCR for the desired time and channel, and the program will be recorded for us.
[4]
Education is the foundation upon which all technology rests. 24 Rather than chalk and a dusty blackboard, the computer keyboard and video display monitor are increasingly the means to our knowledge. Classrooms are interconnected 25 sometimes over thousands of miles—by telecommunications systems, we 26 can even take classes in our homes, watching the instructor on our TV—while eating a delivered pizza, if we like.
[5]
Few people would argue that technological progress has made our lives easier. But if Emerson were imbued with life 27 today, he would probably voice a few words of doubt, reminds 28 us just how far we have come.