Can intellectual advancement lead to a general regression in our existence? Both Rousseau and Virilio deal with this question, but in very different ways. Rousseau examines this question in the broadest sense, by back tracking to the origin of intellect. Virilio, on the other hand, speaks of a very specific type of intellectual advancement, namely-the invention of a long range nuclear missile. Both would agree that intellectual progression can be advantageous to the human race, …showed first 75 words of 1015 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1015 total…vices, but we also entered a world of happiness. The natural man knew nothing of sadness or happiness. With these advances comes a choice to better our lives or not. I believe that intellect has added meaning to our lives, and technology has bettered our lives, but that doesn¹t matter. What matters is we have the power to better our lives through our minds, and use our ³developed faculties² to transcend the ³natural state.²