massive impact on our world and our lives - for example by doubling life expectancy – he noted technology also paradoxically threatens our existence. Approximately 45 years ago, Buckminster Fuller, the American author, inventor, and architect, observed that technology had reached a point at which we had the ability to utilise it to provide the necessary protection and nurturing that our society requires to fulfil our needs and ensure growth. We were crossing a singularity, he felt, making things such as war obsolete. In this technical era, he questioned which political system can or should be the structure and backbone of our society. Or, for that matter, if one was even required at all. In contrast, the German Philosopher Martin Heidegger held a more pessimistic view of technology. While many feel that technology is something under our control, this was not the case for Heidegger. For him, once set on its course, the development of and advancements in technology were something beyond our control. Dr. Karachalios felt that the reality is probably somewhere in between and it is up to us to decide what we feel or believe. For him, this decision was the heart of the two-day workshop. To help us come to our own conclusions, Dr. Karachalios suggested we look for impact. For instance, has technology made the world more sustainable? Has technology made the world more democratic, fair or safe? In his opinion we should seek to measure if and how technology has delivered under each of these topics before concluding optimistically or pessimistically. At the same time, looking more broadly at the agenda of the workshop, Dr. Karachalios emphasised that in this technical era it is important that we properly educate and inform ourselves about the potential dangers, risks and dilemmas in our path. With technology, he noted, we tend to lack a clear understanding of the direction in which we are moving, and instead follow the impetus of the various drivers or “war machines” that push forward developments and advancements. Such drivers, Dr. Karachalios clarified, include: militarism, geopolitics, the religion of “do-ability” within the techno-scientific community and even our own fear of death. It is important for us to better understand these drivers or “war machines” to be able to choose our own direction. He added the caveat however, that going against these drivers will be costly. There will be no reward along the way for the individuals engaged against the "war machines", but it is his hope that the end result will be worth it for the collective. He commended the workshop as a forum to hold dialogue on these drivers or “war machines” behind technology and encouraged all those present to continue building bridges amongst throughout the concerned communities to foster engagement.
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