Pathways to a better future

As technology changes rapidly, we are faced with new questions about our values, our identities and how we care for our planet. These are questions that philosophy has been thinking about for centuries, but it's only recently that technology has made them more urgent. While technological advances have brought many benefits, they also raise important ethical questions. 

How can we ensure that technology serves humanity in a way that is responsible, fair and mindful of the environment? How can we use technology to improve lives without causing harm to the planet? These are the kinds of questions philosophy can help answer. From my experiences living in different countries—India, Nepal, Korea, and Norway—I’ve come to see how philosophy, technology and sustainability are all deeply connected. The more we bring these areas together, the better prepared we will be to tackle the challenges of the modern world. In India and Nepal, I learned how Eastern philosophy emphasizes the connection between all things. “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”, meaning the world is one family, is central to these cultures. This belief teaches us that everything in the world is linked, and that includes technology. Eastern ideas encourage us to think about how our actions, including our use of technology, affect the world around us. They make us ask: how can we use technology to benefit everyone, not just ourselves? How can we make sure technological progress doesn’t harm the environment or deepen inequality?

In these countries, nature is seen as something sacred, and people are encouraged to live in harmony with it. This idea pushes us to consider the impact of our actions on the planet and those who are less fortunate. In Norway, I was introduced to Western views on technology, which offer a different perspective. For example, German philosopher Martin Heidegger argued that modern technology tends to turn nature into something we can use up, without considering its long-term consequences. He argued that we treat the Earth as a resource to be consumed, rather than something to be respected. This idea makes us think about the true cost of technological development, not just in terms of money or convenience, but in terms of the environment. Another important philosopher, Hans Jonas, also spoke about the ethical responsibility we have to future generations. He argued that we need to think carefully about the long-term effects of our actions and the kind of world we are leaving behind. His work reminds us that while technology can bring progress, we must use it with caution to avoid damaging the planet and society.

Through my work with ICT4D (Information and Communication Technology for Development), I’ve seen how technology can improve lives in countries like India and Nepal. It has opened doors to education, healthcare and other opportunities that were once out of reach for many people. But there’s a challenge: technology must be used carefully. If we aren’t careful, it could deepen the divide between the privileged and the underprivileged. In many places, access to technology is still limited, and without addressing this gap, we risk leaving some people behind. In countries like Korea and Norway, technology has driven economic growth and innovation. However, even in these places, there are concerns about how technology affects the environment. From the waste created by old electronics to the energy used by digital systems, technology can harm the planet if we don’t take care. The question we need to ask is: how can we use technology to help society without causing harm to the planet?

Sustainability is not just about protecting nature; it’s also about ensuring that we meet the needs of future generations. How we understand sustainability is influenced by the cultures we come from, and that affects how we use technology. In Norway, sustainability is a key part of everyday life.

The country has embraced renewable energy, and people care deeply about reducing their environmental impact. This is not just a policy but a way of life. In India and Nepal, sustainability is often tied to moral and spiritual beliefs. The idea of respecting nature is deeply embedded in these cultures, and people see it as a responsibility to care for the environment. By combining these different views, we can create a more complete understanding of sustainability—one that includes both technological progress and respect for the Earth.

The solution to today’s challenges lies in bringing together Eastern and Western philosophies, where we can learn from both. We need to combine the wisdom of respecting nature with the need to think carefully about how technology affects society. By doing this, we can create a future where technology benefits humanity while also respecting the environment. To address the issues we face today, we need to bring together philosophy, technology and sustainability.

It’s not enough to focus only on technological innovation or philosophical reflection; we need an approach that considers all aspects of life—social, economic, environmental and technological. From my experiences in India, Nepal, Korea, and Norway, I’ve learned that no single philosophy can solve all our problems. We need to encourage a dialogue between different ideas, cultures and disciplines. Only by doing this can we find solutions to the challenges we face today. It’s time for both technology experts and philosophers to engage with each other more, sharing ideas on how to build a better future. If we listen to the lessons of philosophy and sustainability, we can create a world where technology helps everyone without harming the planet. We must ensure that technology is used in ways that are beneficial for all, not just for a few, and that it works to protect, rather than harm, the Earth.