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War and Consumerism in Regards to Technological Advancement
War and consumerism are often cited as causes of technological development. However, neither can be the sole reason for technological advancement, though they can be motivations to develop technology. With this in mind, it is important to consider there are many possible motivations for technological advancement. It is also important to note that war and consumerism are not necessarily efficient motivations either, and can often be downright wasteful. Before the motivations for developing technology can be considered it is better to ponder other elements that need to exist before technological development can occur. After this will be a list of the possible motivations to spin the wheel of progress. With this knowledge, we can conceptually understand that technology can adequately be moved forward without war and without excessive consumption. Using proper motivations will allow great technological advancement without a needless waste of resources and the unhealthy psychological inputs that often come with war and overconsumption.

Important Determinants for the Technological Advancement of a Society

  • Geopolitical situation (including trade and foreign investment).
  • Infrastructure.
  • Population amount.
  • Amount and diversity of resources.
  • Scientific culture or subculture: Though not necessarily required in primitive times, the more advanced technology becomes the more necessary this determinant is. In any case, the greater the scientific culture of a people the higher chance that greater technological development will occur assuming other factors are significantly in place. A scientific culture or subculture will consist of a significant portion of the population with an interest in research and developing technology. Achieving this can come about by chance, a motivational influence, foreign influence, and/or social engineering.
  • Technological inheritance.
Some Motivations to Develop Technology
  • Consumption: A quest for more and/or better goods and services.

  • Disaster: Overcoming potential hardships and solving problems to avoid calamities and accidents.

  • Ego: Pride in accomplishment, professional or otherwise. This motivation can stand alone, but can also be heavily linked with consumption, wealth, and war.

  • Interest: A genuine intrigue in research or science.

  • Necessity: In the context of everyday needs such as food and shelter, this motivation was most important in primitive times.

  • Responsibility: A sentiment of duty for the benefit of society or an element of society. This can stand alone, but can also be heavily linked with disaster, war, and will to advance.

  • War, threat of war, or a perceived threat of war: As a result of self-preservation or hopes of conquest.

  • Wealth: This can simply be the desire for a reasonable standard of living as well to avoid disaster, but can also be heavily linked with consumption and ego.

  • Will to advance: The quest to reach the next level for the sake of challenge, not necessarily always tied to ego or interest.

War and Consumerism
War is often thought to be a cause of technological advancement because it influences societies to invent methods, tools, and weapons to help the war effort. However, even if war is a large motivation for these developments it is not the main engine driving them. This main engine is composed of the listed determinants above. Consumerism is erroneously thought to be the cause of technological advancement for similar reasons, but also because there is a correlation between amount of the amount of consumption and the technological advancement of countries. But again, this is more of a result of unchecked consumption as an economy gets bigger rather than a causation. And as an economy gets bigger it obviously has a higher chance of developing more technology. The engine driving this growth and development is still composed of the list of above determinants.

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