Technological evolution is as a result of continued innovations in society. Usually, technological development occurs because people are always trying to find innovative ways to exploit resources to meet their needs. Different theorists have developed various perspectives to explain the evolution of technology over time. This paper aims to discuss and compare technological development, as established by Leslie White, Gerhard Lenski, and Alvin Toffler.
Gerhard’s Perspective on the Evolution of Technology
According to Lenski, technology is the information that people have on how to use the material resources in a society or culture to meet human needs and satisfy their desires. He asserts that the more information society has, the more advanced it becomes. He believes that information is critical in the societal transition from one technological level to a better one. Lenski asserts that the survival of a society is mostly dependent on the societal level of technological progress compared to the society in which they are competing. Lenski asserts that culture unites members of a society ( Elwell, 2013) . Usually, cultural patterns become diverse as a society becomes more sophisticated technology and information. Lenski defines four levels of communication that enhance passing information hence the technological evolution. The first step is the passing of genes from one generation to the next, also known as biological communication. The second step is sentience or the ability to perceive, feel, or experience objectively. He asserts that during the stage, people begin to develop awareness and understanding of the world. During the stage, individuals adapt better to the environment of the earth and can share their experiences. In the third step, people become more capable of logic. During this stage, people apply observation and fact-based analysis of the world. The fourth step is the mastering of language, writing, and the ability to create symbols. This is the foundation of civilization.
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Lenski also proposes four levels of technological development, with the first step being at the hunter-gatherer level, which involves physical working to reduce food insecurity. Lenski identifies the second stage as obtaining part of the food supply from horticulture by growing plants. The third level is engaging in organized agriculture. Mostly, food supply allows complex social orders to rise. During this level of technological advancement, individuals experience social class inequalities and complex labor division. The industrial revolution is the final level of technological advancement. The stage involves the replacement of a food-based economy ( Elwell, 2013) . The high level of social class inequality and revolutionary improvement in production means as a result of the fourth stage.
Leslie White
White’s perception of technological evolution relates to people’s ability to control energy. According to White, the development of technology has been enhanced by people's ability to harness more power. White suggests that technological evolution occurs due to the attempt of human beings to solve challenges to survive. As a result, people have been forced to capture more knowledge that they use in meeting their different needs. As people obtain more energy, efficiency, and technological evolution levels continue to rise. Cultural growth is considered as a critical factor in facilitating technological growth. White believes that culture determines the extent of technological development and the level of energy harnessed in society ( White, 2016) . White identifies five stages of human development regarding the use of energy. The first stage is using human muscle power, and the second stage is the human harness the energy of domesticated animals. People raise and herd livestock for food energy. Horses were used as the means of transport and mounts for worriers and hunters. Stage three involves engaging in the agricultural revolution to provide extra food energy and extend the value of step 2. Stage four is harnessing the power of natural resources like oil, coal, and natural gas. The final stage of human development by White is harnessing and relying on nuclear energy. White's formula for technological development is; C= ET. C represents culture, E represents the consumed energy, and T the efficiency of technical factors.
Alvin Toffler
Alvin Toffler’s perspective of technological evolution emphasizes on what he considers as the future shock. According to Toffler, people should always derive better adaptive measures than before. He describes future shock as the perception of a lot of change in a short time. Society tends to undergo rapid industrial advancement through technological changes. The unprecedented changes may be overwhelming for the majority of people in society. Toffler states that society's development takes place in three major stages of the agrarian revolution: industrial development and postindustrial growth. The agrarian stage started with the invention of agriculture during the Neolith period, the new Stone Age. Toffler relates the agricultural revolution with the move from barbarity to civilization. The second stage is the industrial stage that began in England with the industrial revolution. According to Toffler, essential advances during the era entailed machine and the steam engine. The last stage is the postindustrial stage, which began in the second half of the twentieth century. Primarily, it is marked by the inventions of automated manufacturing, computers, and robots. It is associated with the growth of the service sector. During the era, there was an increase in brainwork, while manual labor's need continued to decline. Toffler refers to revolutionary changes in the society and economy in a concept he refers to as waves. According to Toffler, human has already passed through the first two stages and is in the process of entering into the third, which is believed to be the knowledge phase. The physical and mental modification of human brains has contributed to the present social and economic changes.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Leslie White, Gerhard Lenski, and Alvin Toffler consider technology as the main factor for societal evolution. The need for people to meet the growing needs led to changes in technological aspects hence resulting in an overall impact on the nature of the society. Additionally, knowledge is considered an essential factor as it dictates the extent to which individuals keep up with changes in technology. Linski's perspective relates to technological evolution to adaptive measures by humans to meet their survival needs. Generally, Lenski associates technological development to genetic inheritance, the presence of cultural information, the growth of the population, and social interactions, and human needs. These are the factors that push people to change and adapt to their new socio-cultural environment hence causing technological evolution. For White, technological evolution relates development to the ability of people to capture energy. Technology is considered the main factor in societal evolution.
Both Lenski and White relate technological evolution to the human desire to meet diverse needs for survival. On the other hand, Toffler asserts that technological development has the possibility of overwhelming people’s ability. Unlike White and Lenski, Toffler addresses several consequences related to technological advancement. As a result. Toffler’s perspective on technological evolution is considered the most effective. Toffler defines future shock as a personal view of too much change within a short period (Zakaria & Alyati, 2012). He provides convincing arguments to the effects that human societies are experiencing as mind-boggling changes in society and technology. Many people are feeling disconnected while living life-shattering stress and disorientation. According to him, the world is in future shock, and everyone is drowning in information overload. To him, most of the social problems in human life are as a result of shock.
References
Elwell, F. W. (2013). Lenski’s Evolutionary Theory. http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/users/f/felwell/www/Theorists/Essays/Lenski2.htm
White, L. A. (2016). The evolution of culture: the development of civilization to the fall of Rome . Routledge.
Zakaria, W., & Alyati, W. F. (2012). Alvin Toffler: Knowledge Technology and Change in Future Society. International Journal of Islamic Thought , 1 , 54-61.
