The primary goal of technological advancement should be to increase people’s efficiency so that they have more leisure time.
Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.
The foremost goal of technological advancement should be to increase people’s efficiency so that they have more leisure time. This is a laudable goal, as most people would probably agree that if life were more fulfilling, we would feel better about it. However, there are several problems with this statement
First, life is not just about efficiency, but also quality. People may want more time to devote to doing things that they enjoy, such as sports, reading, and socializing. As long as people have the time to fulfill these other aspects of their lives, they may still derive satisfaction from efficiency. For example, some people may be completely content if their daily routine consists of working all day and coming home to their family. While they may not enjoy their jobs, they are content with their routine and do not wish to change. Others, however, may spend time outside of work enjoying hobbies or certain activities, and in order to do so, they must have the time to do so. If this time is lost to greater efficiency, it may impair their ability to pursue these activities
Furthermore, efficiency may not necessarily yield more leisure time. It is true that one’s time spent working may be reduced, but so may time spent with family and friends. When one spends less time with family and friends, there is less time for enjoyable activities. Similarly, if one spends more time working, there is less time for relaxation. Thus, efficiency does not necessarily equal leisure time
If one’s schedule is not flexible enough to allow for greater efficiency, then a higher productivity rate may not necessarily result in more free time. For example, one may work seven days a week, from nine in the morning to nine at night. Such a schedule may deny one the opportunity to do other enjoyable activities, such as going out to dinner or spending time with friends. Such schedules may be acceptable for busy parents or people who work in demanding jobs, but many people would be harmed if they were to adopt such a schedule
For all of the aforementioned reasons, the primary goal of technological advancement should not be to increase people’s efficiency. Instead, society should work toward creating lives that are both productive and pleasurable.