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Consciousness No Longer Subconscious

Mylisha
CCBC

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Abstract
When presented with the question, Are we ignorant for not seeing our potential
demise? Why or why not? The answer was clear. Yes. We are ignorant to our potential demise
because we are causing it. Generally, you cannot see yourself without a mirror, and that is what
we need.
We have started on a path of scientific and technologic advancements that we cannot get
off of. Its takes one technological advance to fix the problems from its predecessor and another
one for the imaginary problem that we have within our society, which leads us to having more
technology then we can understand to be able to operate. We have sacrificed faiths and beliefs.
We have left our fellow man and the environment without a second thought, all for the
advancement of technology.
Agriculture took a hit for the better, but at natures and societies expense. Poor growing
conditions, contaminated food and unemployment rates escalated. Society is increasing in
narcissism and apathy and through empirical evidence the decline in sympathy and empathy.
Societies misuse and maladaptive behaviors with these advancements in reference to the
environment are not good practices. The environment is collapsing on top of itself trying to
maintain through humans consumption, harvest, and production from its resources. It is because
we are ignorant to the process of the advancements that we follow along as mindless zombies for
the next new piece of technology with no thought as its cause or effect.
The key is to enter into a state of consciousness. Once there we begin to have
understanding. When society is wrapped in science and technology and science and technology
are wrapped in consciousness of the masses we may then have a different view. For now, we the
masses are still ignorant and blind to our potential demise.

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Keywords: Agriculture, Complexity, Consciousness, Nature, Science, Society,

Technology

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Consciousness No Longer Subconscious
With constant growth in scientific and technological advancements without
consciousness, growth as a complexity is absent. Some scientists, engineers, and
members of the general public refuse to take into account that nature provides the
fundamental materials for such advancements. Call it ignorance or sheer carelessness, but
the uses/use of these advancements and their impact on society in addition to nature can
potentially be our demise.
Advancements
Scientific and technological advancements have been in full bloom since the turn of the
21st century. The undeniable need to continue to make things smaller, faster, sleeker, more
connected, easier and safer, has pushed the areas to new heights. As a quantum-mechanical
engineer Seth Lloyd states, current rapid rates of progress computer components are halving
in size every two years or less and doubling in power at the same time. (Llyod, 2010) He
continues to say, Quantum computers should not be available for forty years, yet simple
quantum computers are being built today. (Lloyd, 2010) With this realization from someone
well doctrine in the field, it makes one think, how or why are these feats are occurring and can
the rest of the world keep up?
Effects on Agriculture
Early farmers were great stewards to nature in their practices of food production. Since the
invention of agriculture, humans have used sustainable farming practices such as animal labor
and waste to produce plants whose edible parts contain the solar energy captured through the
process of photosynthesis. (Hueseumann, 2011) In hopes to find better faster ways to produce
food and harvest on a larger scale, while still making money technology made way for

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industrialization. These sustainable farming practices came to an end with the industrialization
of agriculture approximately a century ago, when powerful farm machinery replaced human and
animal labor and non renewable fossil fuel inputs were used to increase crop production through
the application of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. As a result of the technological
innovations agriculture productivity has increased significantly. (Hueseumann, 2011)
Quantity does not surpass quality however; food produced today has various questionable
practices behind them. The industrialization of agriculture is cause for those questions. Farm
animals are fed other animals, growth hormones, and antibiotics. Mass production results in
unsanitary living and feeding quarters for livestock. A USDA study found that more than 99
percent of broiler chicken carcasses sold in stores had detectable levels of E. coli, indicating
fecal contamination. Consumer Reports states, 1.1 million Americans sickened each year.
(Peta, 2011) Artificial coloring, fillers, preservatives MSG, high fructose corn syrup and other
chemicals in food and beverages causes diseases in human beings.
Society The first decade of the twenty-first century has ended. Machines still
proliferate. Human relationships are still in decline. (Slade, 2012) Although written three years
ago that statement rings true on many levels. With increasing attention to our technological
devices we have run short on reasons to get out and do things in nature.
People today believe we are connected more than ever because we can be reached even if
we are not in the presence of one another. In reality, we could not be further apart or could we? A
good example to illustrate how apart we are can be seen in YouTube video social experiments,
consisting of: people standing idly by or recording fights, thefts, kidnappings, bullying, and
domestic violence to upload on social media for likes, comments, followers, attention and/or
notoriety instead of genuinely interjecting to lend a helping hand or do the right thing. One of the

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most compelling experiments was one of people not recognizing their closest family members or
friends if they are dressed up to be homeless. All parties in that experiment did not recognize
their family member or friend until it was revealed to them. These types of experiments are
meant to open our eyes to the fact that this is how we treat one another on a daily basis, as if we
are invisible. It is even worse for those who are homeless as they appear to be a norm and
nonexistent.
There are still good Samaritans in the world, but for the most part, society has confused
sympathy for empathy and empathy not being worth their time. On the other hand we were not
created nor designed with that mentality; it has been a learned behavior. We were Gods finest
workWhat it is to be human has diminished under pressures from technology and from the
application of economic reasoning to every aspect of human life. (Slade, 2012) Society has
limited its self. Maybe even to a form that can be compared to segregation. When we are bored
or when a stranger enters our elevator or subway car, we suddenly remember our portable
shield BlackBerry or iPhone- grateful to avoid time spent enduring uncomfortable selfreflection or eye contact. (Slade, 2012, p. 30) The result, apathy, we are no longer interested in
people or nature.
Young people will proclaim their independence proudly and boldly, but will confess in
whispers their lack of direction, need for companionship, and help in order to uphold this high
tech plastic lifestyle that society has molded. Among the challenges confronting our elementary
and high school students today, one might list short attention spans, lack of discipline, cynical
attitudes, too much television, low regard for teachers, or little interest in reading fact is
computers dont belong in the classroom. Not only do they not help solve any educational
problems, but they very often make existing problems worse. (Stoll, 2007) In a world where

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information is accessed at lighting speeds, snap chats, screen shots, portable memory devices,
and six fifteen second videos full of vulgar, violent, toilet humor, and perversive language and
images, this is what is produced. Adolescents have access to these things unmonitored and even
if monitored, they are more cunning than the (possible tech illiterate) adult supervising them.
Technology is being thrust upon the youth of society and all they can do is adapt of be left
behind. Consequently, it is being highly recommended that computer literacy be part of the
schools curriculum. Its one more way to dumb down the school, giving the appearance of
teaching futuristic subjects while dodging the important topics. (Stoll, 2007)
Society is beginning to build its own penitentiary with walls made of screens and floors
made of micro chips and mother boards in such a condition that every cell is solitary
confinement. If society does not consciously regain humanity and humility those words will be a
thing of the ice age. Human longing persists, but it is no longer projected backward toward our
divine, parental origins. Instead we project our longing into the technological future where weimagine- that we will soon be fulfilled and finally free. (Slade, 2012, p. 10)
Effects on Nature The environment has held strong and healed its self throughout time,
but the rate of recovery is not fast enough for humans and technology. Using powerful
machinerythe average the depth of top soil has fallen from 21 inches 200years ago to no more
than 6inches today. Soils, which are produced naturally on a time scale of inches per thousand
years, are now being lost through erosion on a scale of inches per decade. (Huesemann, 2011) In
the keeping up of the environment it is clear to see that society can continually take, but cannot
give back what nature is unable to provide. Humans now appropriate more than half of Earths
accessible fresh water for their own use most of it for irrigation. As a result lakes, rivers, and
creeks are running dry contributing to the extinction of many aquatic species. (Hueseumann

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2011) There are limitless amounts of effects that science, technology, and society can, will, and
do have on nature. Human population growth and development invokes a gradual, but profound
global change that has many faces. Atmospheric CO2 levels raise steadily, concentrations of
nutrients and toxic chemicals in lakes and rivers increase, ground water levels drop, harvest rates
from the ocean increasing, and forests become increasingly fragmented. (Scheffer, 2009) A lot
of effects that science, technology, and society have on the environment are down played by the
general media. These withhold of information and its severity can put the world in a
compromised state. Complex systems ranging from the climate to ecosystems can slowly lose
resilience until even minor perturbation can push them over a tipping point. (Scheffer, 2009)
Consciousness is the key. Technology masks deeper issues. Its as if someone is trying to
give directions while someone else is driving, but every time something is said there is a loud
honk or the rev of an engine, or a jay walker. More to the point, your consciousness is giving you
direction and technology is every loud noise and distraction. It is the choice of the individual to
hear and see past the screens and buttons, to fully awaken to the world around us.
These questions will assist in developing a conscious state of being in addition to other
questions. Why do we have technology? Do we know how to operate it properly and safely?
What are its different uses? What effects does it have on society and nature? If negative, how can
it be improved?
The key is to always have the next question, but be prepared to receive an answer at any
given moment. The best way to defeat an opponent and well with an ally is to first understand
them and the way to understanding is through consciousness.

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References
Holland, J. (2014, May 16). Eight pseudoscientific climate claims debunked by real scientists.
Retrieved from billmoyers.com: www.billmoyers.com
Huesemann, M. H. (2011). Techno fix. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers.
Liberman, M. (2011, April 9th). Lyrical Narcissim. Retrieved from upenn.edu:
http//:languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu
Llyod, S. S. (2010). This will Change everything (1 ed.). (J. Brockman, Ed.) New York, NY:
Harper Collins.
Peta. (2011, Feb). Top 10 reasons not to eat chicken. Retrieved from www.peta.org.
Scheffer, M. (2009). Critical transitions in nature and society. Woodstock: Princeton University
Press.
Slade, G. (2012). The Big Disconnect. Amherst: Prometheus Books.
Stoll, C. J. (2007). Technology + Society Opposing Viewpoints. (E. D. Chenes, Ed.) Farmington
Hills, MI: Christine Nasso.
Theel, S. (2014, April 1). Study:Cnn largely ignores major climate report's warning. Retrieved
from mediamatters.org: www.mediamatters.org

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Chart 1

Chart 1 Technologies effects on nature. (Holland, 2014)

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Tables
Table 1

Note: Medias interpretation of relying information about the environment. (Theel, 2014)

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Figures

Figure 1. Is to depict first person singular usage had increased comparatively suggested to
increasing of narcissism. (Liberman, 2011)