Modern Controversy: The Unabomber

In the recent past, issues regarding the perceived dangers of technological advancement have been highlighted by the actions of Theodore Kaczynski, the infamous Unabomber who, over the course of two decades, conducted a campaign of terrorism through mail-bombings. His motives were expressed in the 35,000- word essay which he titled "Industrial Society and Its Future," known by most as "The Manifesto." It begins with a statement that "The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race." Humanity, he contends, has become increasingly dependent on the system of technology that has grown to control the world's social, economic, and political orders. "The system," he states, "does not and cannot exist to satisfy human needs. Instead it is human behavior that has to be modified to for the needs of the system."