There is a debate about which came first- the chicken or the eggs.
Does need provoke scientific inventions, or does a new apparatus create necessity?
Historians argue whether advancement in civilization is the outcome of war or war is the fruit of human progress.
Natural disasters and pandemics damage and kill but teach lessons about a better life for humans. However, the better life of humans paws nature, and nature's revenge rewards calamities to humans.
I think all the examples work both ways.
Somedays before, some of my classmates got together at the university, where we did our MSc. in Environmental Sciences. One environmentalist friend showed me a poor woman collecting plastic bottles from the roadside garbage and commented- you know what significant work she is doing to our environment? I stared at the poor lady and replied- she was earning her livelihood. My environmentalist friend digressed. After a while, tesla came to our discussion, and we all said in unison that it is business. I question myself- what is the difference between Elon Musk and the poor lady? Both were contributing to our environment. Based on their capability- the work size is different. The poor lady is doing it merely for her livelihood- on the other side, Elon Musk is doing it for his trillion-dollar business. The poor lady does not understand what contribution she contributed by collecting plastic bottles; Elon Musk has crystal knowledge- of how much carbon a tesla car will emit in the environment compared to a gasoline car. So, why do we call livelihood when we point to the poor lady and a business when considering Elon Musk? Because a poor lady searches for food to live, Elon Musk is an industry.
I do not want to be judgemental- who is good or not good. Elon Musk runs his business according to business ethics, following laws and regulations. However, I have a fancy sympathy for the poor lady. I think- if Elon Musk would suspend his one space project (I do not know how and when a space project will do good for humanity) and spend the money on poor people by launching a project where these poor people can gain some skills and get some work- millions of poor people would get a better life.
Elon Musk's space projects may bring tremendous happiness to humankind- I do not understand when & how it will happen. But I see the poor lady searching for the plastic bottle in the roadside garbage. Maybe for the future human developed civilization, we have to sacrifice. We may be the chicken or the eggs.
No comments:
Post a Comment