The Role of Technology in Society

Tesla opens his autobiography with the statement, "The progressive development of man is vitally dependent on invention." (p. 27) It is clear throughout his writing that he feels he has played a crucial role in the advancement not only of technology but human happiness through his own crucial work.

Tesla continues in his opening statement, "[Invention] is the most important product of his creative brain. Its ultimate purpose is the complete mastery of mind over the material world, the harnessing of the forces of nature to human needs." Technology is not only important to progress in Tesla's view, it is humankind's most important purpose.

Tesla remarks that he is often asked which of his inventions he thinks is the most important, noting that he has critics who claim that aside from the induction motor he has not really made any practical advances. He replies...