However, biological technologies can also be used for evil social purposes. For example, plagues could be produced to exterminate people the inventors dislike. Besides the promise of good food and a long life, the biological technologies also hold out the specter of mass extinction and the desacralization of life. While basic science makes possible the development of an array of technologies, which technologies are implemented depends upon the motives of human beings. Technology can be directed for the good of all people or it can be used as an instrument of domination and control.
Steel can make swords or plowshares.
Technological developments are inevitable, but their form and use are determined by the type of people and society we have. For example, we have many pos-sibilities for transportation. In the future they are likely to develop armed hovercraft that would ferry supplies between global industrial lords and mafia or gang leaders. On the other hand, if the world is further democratized we may develop pollution and accident free vehicles that can get anyone anywhere conveniently. Highways can be built with buried conductors to power electric cars that would have sensors which would automatically guide the cars and keep them from colliding with one another.