Technology, Culture, and Human Development: An Analysis

This essay examines the perspectives of three anthropologists—Leslie White, Gerhard Lenski, and Alvin Toffler—on the role of technology in human evolution and societal development. White emphasizes the role of technology in driving cultural evolution and the importance of energy in technological advancement. Lenski views technology as a key factor in improving human life, focusing on the role of innovation and social and political factors. Toffler explores the impact of technology on societal change, particularly within the context of techno-utopianism and the industrialization project. The essay highlights the importance of technology in creating resources for the human population and transforming energy efficiently, concluding that technology is a key driving force for human survival and progress. It references key works by White, Toffler, and others to support the analysis.

This article describes about the view on technology of three anthropologist namely Leslie
White, Gerhard Lehski and Alvin Toffler, they have diverse view over the evolution of
technology and the role of technology in changing human lives, As per White technology has
created an incentive to innovate, as per Gerhard technology has been the key criteria to
improve the human life and similarly as per Alfred Toffler Technology always have futuristic
view and is necessary to move into the future because without technology earth will not have
enough resources to evolve in future
As per Leslie White human evolution is dependent on the evolution of technology,
technology create incentive to innovate and it diversifies the human thinking to thrive for
technology. As per Leslie white there are several subsystem of culture,
First is social subsystem which correlates to interpersonal relations that are expressed as
various patterns of behaviour
Second social sub system is ideological in which knowledge, ideas and beliefs are expressed
in ideological form.
Third is sentimental in which feelings and beliefs are expressed in subjective form, attitudes
are also covered in subjective form.
All these subsystem are supported by technological subsystem which comprises of material,
mechanical and chemical equipment along with information generation, these subsystems of
technology transform the energy in to one form into the other usable forms.
It is very important for us to understand that technology enhances the efficiency through
which energy is harnessed and losses are minimum in transformation of energy and thus the
need energy need of human population is satisfied.

As per Gerhard Lehnski technology is the source of improving the human life technology
helps the human population to establish innovative methods to develop themselves, in the
words of Gerhard Lehnski technology is the main factor which improves the life of people.
He further elaborates that social and political motivation are the key factors which leads the
development of technology as per him technology can be continuously developed through
innovation.
As per Alvin Toffler t techno-utopianism accepts the neutrality of technical invention and its
commendation of a technologically has subtle deterministic opinion of history (Robins &
Webster 1999: 84-5). Our examination shows that in terms of technology, Toffler has worked
inside the conformist of the certain Western futurists’ scholarship which is inclined towards
technical strategy. He has regarded technology as one of the key factor in social change
which has caused colossal change in the system of the modern society and ultimately
conclude the current condition into a solo direction of the future. The Western techno culture
have always been fundamental to the industrialization project of technology.
Conclusion
In the end we can conclude that Technology is necessary to create the resource for the human
population to survive because without technology it is very difficult for the human population
to utilize and fulfil the requirement as per the existing resources.
Technology helps humans to convert the energy in to one for into other thereby creating a
natural efficient method to utilize the energy, thus technology is the key driving force for the
humans to survive.

References
White, L. A. (1943). Energy and the evolution of culture. American Anthropologist, 45(3), 335-356.
Toffler, A., & Toffler, H. (1995). Creating a new civilization: The politics of the third wave. Turner Pub.
Heise, D., Lenski, G., & Wardwell, J. (1976). Further notes on technology and the moral order. Social
Forces, 55(2), 316-337.