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Issue:
People are mistaken when they assume that the problems they confront are more complex and challenging than the problems faced by their predecessors. This illusion is eventually dispelled with increased knowledge and experience.
Essay:
Are the problems we confront today more complex and challenging than our forefathers? As the speaker claims, the answer is NO. In my opinion, it deserves a further discussion.
At the primitive stage of human history, almost the whole world once appeared to be incomprehensible to our ancestors. They were confronted with issues such as where to hunt animals, how to effective hunt them, or which kind of weapon to use; in sum, how to ensure existence in the world. Simple as it is, it has assuredly once been a challenging problem for them to consider. As time passes by, the accumulation of knowledge, experience, and intelligence of innumerous generations leads to the spring of science and technology. By virtue of them we try to pursue a better living in the world, more than simply existing by meeting our basic requirements of food, clothing and shelter. Nowadays, we have benefited much from great scientific inventions. For instance, we employ electric lamps to illuminate the dark of night, automobiles and airplanes to travel around at our pleasure, internet to get information promptly throughout the world. Nevertheless, with the rapid development of science and technology, cloning technology, nuclear weapons, biochemistry weapons have become potential time bombs, which might bring disastrous consequences to the humankind. Just imagine if the nuclear weapons are used in an imaginary World War III, the globe might be destroyed completely and not fit for human beings to live any more. Our serious anxiety is, thus, increasingly aroused about the possible negative functions of science, which can be regarded as a double-edged sword. How could we make full use of it without being hurt? It is inevitable that we come to assume that problems faced by us are more complex than our predecessors.
However, is such an anxiety just an illusion, and will the problems be eventually solved by even more advanced science and technology as the speaker states? I concede that it is true that every problem will have a solution, but unfortunately, new problems will constantly emerge into our lives. Though the point of view seems pessimistic to a certain extent, it barely aim to depress us from expecting a better life but helps us to realize the inherent limits of humanity. Let us retrospect the eighteenth century, once being infected by smallpox virus, people could do nothing but wait for trial- one in four would die and the remainders suffer from all kinds of sequelae. Nearly three centuries has passed, smallpox has no more been a threat to us humankind, but what’s more terrible, we find ourselves threatened by a more horrific virus- HIV. Much effort has been made to conquer the disease caused by it –named AIDS, and end the nightmares of pitiful sufferers, whereas little breakthrough has been made. It is no wonder that as smallpox, AIDS will be conquered by further scientific discoveries and advanced therapy methods as endeavor proceeds, but there is still a long way to go. Furthermore, new sorts of virus would probably come into our eyesight and lead to more severe sickness by then, who knows?
In consequence, science reassures us by its brilliant prospect, but the just reassurance inevitably interlaced with distress, disappointment and affliction. Although the anxiety haunting us would hardly be dispelled thoroughly, it is not the excuse to abandon our attempt, that’s to say, we should do our best to alleviate it.