In this blog post, we’ll examine how war—a constant presence throughout human history—has influenced the development of science and technology, and reflect on both the positive outcomes and the dark consequences that technologies developed through war have left on humanity and nature.
Let’s go back to the very beginning of human history. Millions of years ago, as early humans began to emerge, they—like other living beings—had to constantly adapt to survive in their natural environment. In particular, humans increased their chances of survival—both individually and as a group—by living in communities, cooperating with one another, using tools, and drawing on their high adaptability. Based on these abilities, humanity was able to secure its place in the Earth’s ecosystem without being weeded out by the law of the jungle. Human history has continued in this way over millions of years, and throughout that unbroken history, there was one thing that never disappeared but has always existed: “war.”
For humans, the earliest form of war was the struggle for survival between nature and humankind. Compared to the immense power of nature, the strength of individual humans was minuscule, and it was difficult to overcome this challenge through communal living and reproductive capacity alone. Humans had to overcome trials such as temperature, weather, and natural disasters, and to address these challenges, they had to develop tools and technology. After overcoming the struggle against nature, the nature of war shifted to competition among humans over limited resources; even then, possessing advanced technology meant holding an advantage in war. Amid these repeated wars, advancing technology became a crucial condition for human survival, and war and technology began to influence one another—war driving technology, and technology, in turn, driving war.
The movie ‘Planet of the Apes’ also offers food for thought on how war influences the development of science and technology. The film’s protagonist, “Leo,” crashes onto a planet where apes rule over humans and finds himself fighting against “Tade,” the leader of the apes. To win the battle despite being at a disadvantage in terms of military strength and numbers, Leo uses the fuel remaining in the crashed spaceship to create an explosion. This demonstrates how humans overcome the challenges of war by utilizing science and technology in ways that apes do not. Furthermore, the scene toward the end where Leo returns to Earth only to find a world completely different from the one he knew prompts us to reflect on just how profoundly significant technology can be in the context of war. At the film’s conclusion, Leo arrives in Washington, D.C., only to find that instead of humans, a monument to Taid—symbolizing ape society—stands there, and even the police and journalists have turned into apes. This illustrates just how closely war and science and technology are intertwined, and shows that depending on how technology is used, not only the outcome of war but also the very nature of society can change.
Throughout human history, major wars have consistently coincided with rapid technological advancements, leading some to argue that war has accelerated technological progress. In fact, numerous examples of this can be found all around us. A prime example is weapons and firearms. From the early firearms developed in Europe to modern high-tech weapons—including cannons, explosives, missiles, and nuclear weapons—that emerged in the modern era, war has had a significant impact on the development of weapons technology. While these advanced firearms were used as powerful lethal weapons in war, some technologies originally developed for military purposes were later adapted for civilian use after the war ended. Dynamite was utilized in industrial settings such as mining and tunnel construction, and the firing mechanisms and mechanical principles used in firearms were also linked to the development of various mechanical devices. Furthermore, nuclear technology based on nuclear fission was applied to nuclear power generation, becoming one of the energy sources for large-scale electricity production. However, not all of these technologies were originally developed for warfare; dynamite, in particular, should be viewed as an example where industrial needs and military applications developed in tandem.
In addition to weapons used directly in warfare, the Internet and network technologies are also frequently cited as prime examples of technologies that developed in close connection with military research. Even before the Internet evolved into the high-speed networking system we know today, military and research institutions used various communication technologies to share information over long distances. ARPA, under the U.S. Department of Defense, supported the development of ARPANET to share information between computers in different locations, and ARPANET served as a crucial foundation for the evolution of today’s Internet. ARPANET began in the late 1960s with four computer nodes; subsequently, as technologies for connecting multiple networks and communication protocols such as TCP/IP evolved, the foundation for the modern Internet was established. Furthermore, GPS—which was developed for military purposes—is now utilized in various fields in modern society, including navigation and mapping services, logistics, surveying, and air and maritime transportation. Today, GPS has established itself as a positioning, navigation, and timing service that is continuously provided not only for military purposes but also to civilian users worldwide. The fact that some of the technologies developed through military research have spread to civilian society and are now utilized as the foundation of modern society can be viewed as a positive aspect of the relationship between war and science and technology.
However, the flower of “technology” that blooms amid war is much like a rose. People, intoxicated by the colors and fragrance of the magnificent rose, often praise it exclusively while forgetting the many “thorns” hidden within. They overlook the fact that the sharp “thorns” that lay hidden in order to yield the flower of “technology” can once again harm humanity. Among these “thorns” is, first and foremost, the indiscriminate loss of life caused by the development and proliferation of firearms. Countless casualties occurred during the American Civil War, the world wars, and various conflicts in the Middle East; even in peacetime, loss of life results from gun-related crimes and accidents. Furthermore, during construction or development projects involving explosives and bombs, the ground and surrounding environment can be damaged, leading to secondary problems such as collapses or landslides. Additionally, nuclear weapons—developed by various countries for military purposes—and nuclear power generation, which uses the principle of nuclear fission to produce energy, constantly highlight the importance of safety management regarding radioactive materials and radiation. These adverse effects are not limited to firearms but also extend to networks and GPS systems that enable long-distance communication. Users of personal computers and various digital devices that access the Internet are exposed to the risk of personal information and privacy leaks; in the past, South Korea has also experienced large-scale personal information leaks that sparked social controversy. Since GPS is used to track the locations of people and objects, the protection of location data and personal information becomes an increasingly critical issue as the technology itself becomes more sophisticated. Therefore, it is difficult to say that technological advancement automatically makes human life safer.
In addition to the adverse effects of technology described above, technology developed in the context of war can give rise to various negative problems during that process. In the extreme circumstances of war, immoral and unconscionable behavior becomes rampant, and consideration for nature inevitably weakens. Consequently, in the pursuit of technological advancement, unethical issues such as horrific human experimentation or ruthless acts against civilians may arise. Additionally, acts that destroy nature—such as the threat of radioactive materials stemming from nuclear weapons development, as well as environmental pollution and climate change caused by the excessive use of fossil fuels—can occur. These problems are like shadows cast by the name of technological advancement. However, for those who view the technological progress brought about by war in a positive light, these shadows may not be readily apparent. This is because the convenience and economic benefits generated by technology are so great that it is easy to turn a blind eye to the sacrifices and harm that occur in the process.
Humanity has long competed over the Earth’s limited resources, and at times, that competition has led to war. Throughout history, there have been constant conflicts and wars to secure more resources and influence—such as territory, oil, money, and labor. Faced with the extreme circumstances brought about by war, people invented new technologies and rapidly advanced existing ones in pursuit of better outcomes; before long, technological capability became one of the key factors determining a nation’s economic and military power, as well as its international influence, in modern society. Through this process, human technology has created a level of civilization so advanced that it is difficult to compare with that of any other life form on Earth. One could argue that these positive outcomes—constant progress and a highly advanced civilization—stem in part from the extreme competitive environment of war. However, to positively assess war as the driving force behind technological advancement based solely on this argument would be an overly simplistic interpretation. This is because, if we are dazzled by the advanced technology and economic growth that emerge after war and view the results of war solely as economic and technological achievements, we fail to properly consider the pain and suffering that arise in the process.
As the message of the movie ‘Planet of the Apes’ conveys to us, the apes—or nature and the Earth—fear the technological capabilities possessed by humans. To be precise, it can be argued that they fear not so much the technological power itself as the inherent cruelty of humans who wield it. Humans are willing to invest enormous resources to achieve the results they desire in the name of scientific and technological progress; they even seek to advance science and technology by damaging nature—the very habitat in which we must coexist—and seizing its resources. Furthermore, if such advanced technology is misused, it can ultimately lead to humans turning their weapons against one another and destroying each other. A paradoxical situation can arise in which technology created to enrich human life actually brings greater disaster upon humanity; in this process, ethics and values can collapse, and nature can be destroyed.
We must no longer be bound by the development of science and technology that is aimed solely at conquering and destroying. Countless wars waged in the name of competition have inflicted irreversible damage on humanity and brought severe pollution and changes to nature. As we look at the shadow cast behind the “beautiful flower” of technology cultivated by humans and the reality hidden within it, we must develop technology not merely to win in competition, but for the things we must protect and nurture. Imagine a world like the final scene of the movie ‘Planet of the Apes’: a world where some species on Earth develops technology just like ours and uses it solely to oppress humans and nature. Isn’t that species of ape exactly like us today? We must realize that the beautiful flower of technology, cultivated using Earth’s resources, is not something that only humanity can enjoy. We must now use technology to protect nature and the Earth—and, by extension, to protect humanity itself.
