Sustainability, knowledge tools and the ethos of the Internet

摘要

Never before in the history of humankind have we enjoyed greater prosperity and at the same time never has the threat to human survival been greater due to environmental degradation, over population and the possibility of nuclear war. The explanation of this paradox of increasing prosperity and increasing danger lies in understanding that our knowledge tools create both service and disservice. While they are the means by which we created the great wealth and well being that we enjoy their misuse endangers human survival. The author considers a solution to the dilemma, involving the co-ordination of the use of knowledge tools especially those of computing and telecommunications.