We Can—We Must: Reflections on the Technological Imperative

The driving force behind human progress isn't curiosity alone—it's the relentless belief that if we can build it, we must.

Introduction: The Unstoppable Momentum of Innovation

The moment Dr. Robert Jarvik declared the second artificial heart implant "routine" in 1985, he encapsulated a powerful force shaping our civilization: the technological imperative 3 . This phenomenon—the belief that technologically feasible actions should be pursued—propels societies from steam engines to quantum computers. Yet as we stand at the convergence of AI, biotechnology, and decentralized systems in 2025, this imperative demands urgent reflection.

We deploy humanoid robots in factories, let AI agents manage critical infrastructure, and edit genes with CRISPR. Each leap echoes economist John Kenneth Galbraith's observation: "Technology, once launched, creates its own imperative" 4 . But where does this momentum lead us? And how do we balance innovation with ethics? This article explores why "we can, we must" defines our age—and how to wield it wisely.

Key Concepts: The Engine of Progress

1.1 Defining the Imperative

The technological imperative operates on multiple levels:

  • Economic: Galbraith's analysis of Ford Motor Company revealed how advanced technology necessitates massive capital, specialized labor, and long-term planning. By 1964, Ford's Mustang required years of design and millions in tooling—locking the company into a production trajectory 4 .
  • Medical: The rapid adoption of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) for heart failure exemplifies the "clinician's imperative": "If it might save a life, how can we not use it?"—despite costs exceeding $200,000 per patient 7 .
  • Cultural: Philosopher Andrew Feenberg argues technology embodies social values. Autonomous weapons or social media algorithms aren't neutral; they encode creators' ethics 1 8 .

1.2 Theories of Technological Momentum

Sociologists identify mechanisms sustaining this imperative:

Social Constructivism

Technologies gain meaning through cultural interpretation. Interpretive flexibility means an AI chatbot can be a productivity tool or a privacy threat, depending on societal context 1 .

Actor-Network Theory

Humans and non-humans (e.g., algorithms, sensors) form interconnected networks. Bruno Latour notes technology "shapes human action" by enabling or constraining choices 1 .

Critical Theory

As Feenberg warns, technologies can reinforce power imbalances unless democratically guided 1 8 .

Table 1: Ethical Dimensions of the Technological Imperative
Domain Driving Force Key Tension Example
Medicine Life extension Cost vs. care access LVAD implants for elderly hearts 7
AI Efficiency gains Autonomy vs. control Agentic AI making business decisions 5
Sustainability Environmental urgency Innovation vs. equity $530B "circular economy" tech by 2030 6 9
Cybersecurity Threat response Security vs. privacy Post-quantum cryptography arms race 6

The Experiment: How LVADs Exposed the Medical Imperative

The REMATCH trial (2001) exemplifies the technological imperative in action. This landmark study tested LVADs against medical therapy for end-stage heart failure patients ineligible for transplants.

2.1 Methodology: A Leap of Faith

  1. Patient Selection: 129 participants randomized into LVAD (n=68) or drug therapy (n=61) groups.
  2. Intervention: Thoratec HeartMate VE devices surgically implanted with external power sources.
  3. Metrics: Survival rates, quality of life (QoL), and cost tracked over 24 months 7 .

2.2 Results: Hope at a Cost

Table 2: REMATCH Trial Outcomes
Outcome LVAD Group Medical Therapy Significance
1-year survival 52% 25% p<0.001
2-year survival 23% 8% p=0.09
Serious adverse events 0.48/patient-year 0.08/patient-year Device failures dominated
Cost per life-year $186,200 N/A Medicare coverage pivotal 7
Medical technology
LVAD technology represents the medical imperative in action

Despite modest survival gains and high complication rates, LVADs became Medicare-reimbursed standards by 2003. Why?

  • Symbolic Power: As ethnographer Barbara Koenig observed, such technologies represent "the battle for the hearts of America"—literal and metaphorical 3 7 .
  • Institutional Momentum: NIH funding enabled innovation; Medicare reimbursement cemented adoption.

Emerging Frontiers: 2025's Imperatives in Action

Agentic AI: The Autonomous Workforce

"By 2028, 15% of daily work decisions will be made by agentic AI" — Gartner (2025)

These systems (e.g., "virtual coworkers") autonomously execute multistep tasks:

  • Capabilities: Memory, planning, tool usage (e.g., booking flights after email analysis) 6 .
  • Imperative Drive: McKinsey notes AI's role as a "foundational amplifier" of other trends—from robotics to energy 2 6 .
  • Risks: Requires guardrails against harmful actions.

Sustainability Tech: The Green Mandate

Sustainable technology

Climate technologies like carbon capture and "circular economy" systems turn waste into resources. AI optimizes energy grids, while blockchain tracks material flows 6 9 . The imperative here is existential: "If we can reverse emissions, we must deploy every tool."

The Scientist's Toolkit: Tools Shaping 2025

Table 3: Research Reagent Solutions for Technological Imperatives
Tool Function Application Example
Synthetic Data Trains AI models without privacy risks Financial fraud detection (Forrester 2025) 5
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Shields data from quantum decryption Protecting health records (Gartner 2025)
Digital Twins Simulates real-world objects in virtual space Testing city infrastructure impacts 9
Neurological Interfaces Decodes brain signals for device control Restoring mobility; cognitive enhancement
Neurological Interfaces

Blurring the line between mind and machine

Post-Quantum Crypto

Future-proofing our digital security

Digital Twins

Virtual replicas for real-world testing 9

Balancing the Imperative: Ethics in the Age of Acceleration

The mantra "we can, we must" demands counterweights:

Governance Platforms

AI systems need real-time oversight for bias and safety (e.g., Gartner's #2 trend) .

Participatory Design

Feenberg advocates involving marginalized groups in technology development 1 8 .

Reevaluation Protocols

Regular tech assessments prevent obsolete or harmful tools from persisting (e.g., Medicare's LVAD reviews) 7 .

As Justin Westcott notes, 2025's tech convergence demands "trust as the glue holding systems together" 9 .

Conclusion: Steering the Momentum

The technological imperative is neither good nor evil—it's a force of human ingenuity. From Ford's factories to quantum labs, it pushes boundaries. Yet its power must be channeled:

  • Prioritize human needs over technical novelty
  • Democratize access to emerging tools
  • Enshrine ethics in design
"The choice isn't between progress and caution," writes philosopher Andrew Feenberg. "It's between democratic control and blind momentum." 1 8 .

As agentic AI and climate tech reshape our world, we must ask not just "Can we build it?" but "Should we?"—and let collective wisdom guide the answer.

References