The reason why humans were able to thrive and become the dominant species on the planet is their ability to develop and use technology. The ability to conceive of, develop, and use tools in conjunction with the apposable thumb, ensured man's survival.
Technology is the method through which man achieves freedom.
Whether that is freedom from darkness by having fire, freedom from the elements by developing means of shelter, on through the ages to freedom from floods by erecting dams, or even to freedom from time and geographical constraints through aviation. Whether via simple tools or complex machines the ultimate goal of technology is to allow humans to make their existence fall more under their control, and less under the whims of chance. From time immemorial and in practically every studied society, the major concern of humans seems to be fertility and procreation, followed closely by the ability to choose gender and order of offspring. From a teleological molecular perspective that makes sense. The religious rites of early societies revolved around fertility rituals.