Everybody is subject to error

A lot of what's driving this blog is my conviction that technology can improve our lives.  And so it has to a  large extent.

But what happens when technology goes wrong?  There's been a few books and movies on the subject.  The Terminator films were an example.  The Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park were a couple others.

There was a line in the movie of Jurassic Park in which the rock star mathematician asked an important question that drives home the point.  To paraphrase a bit, it goes something like this:  just because you can do something, it doesn't mean that you should.

It seems that you have to strike a balance, somehow.  For instance, I favor molten-salt reactors.  There are those who are opposed to all nuclear energy.  Those who favor nuclear energy may not take into consideration everything that could go wrong.  However, those who opposed ignore the real benefits of nuclear energy and over hype the benefit of other forms of energy.  But nothing is perfect.  Nobody has ever come up with an idea that can solve all problems and not create new ones.  Nuclear energy is like this.  But so is so called renewables.  Every form of energy has its downside.  Every form has its upside.

I think the way to approach it is with a recognition of the risks and the willingness to take them in order to obtain the benefits.  Sure, the risks may not be completely removed, but the benefits are worth it.  If it is not worth it, we may as well resign ourselves to a bleak future.  There is no perfection on this Earth, especially when people are involved.