Yuval Levin's Essay Imagining The Future

Yuval Levin’s essay ‘Imagining the Future’ is an essay that explores and debates the cultural, ethical, and political concerns that arise in modern society with the introduction of technology. In essence, it acts as a cautionary tale that reflects the potential adverse implications humanity faces with rapid breakthroughs in science and technology. As such, the central idea of this essay is to convince the audience that despite the multifaceted nature of our environment and the presence of our unconscious prejudice, it is still within our capability to create a better future for future generations. We can achieve this through the introduction of constructive conversations and the instillation of accountable leaders. Levin – a traditionalist

This is done by noting the potential of significant problems arising due to novel discoveries and technological advancements. He then goes on to counter that these issues can be resolved by employing the strategy of “trial and error”, which is contingent on the personal decisions made by individuals who adopt these new technological devices. The use of the phrase “trial and error” suggests that the potential errors made during the journey play an essential role in the process of innovation, implying that any issues developed during this process are capable of being resolved through the process of trial and learning. Consequently, this would assist in relieving the worries that humanity may harbor regarding the possible adverse effects new technologies bring. Thus, this strategy builds the picture that Levin is still capable of presenting a strong argument that supports his viewpoint despite considering probable criticisms. As he successfully builds on his credibility, we can conclude that this rhetorical tool and structure is effective in employing both ethos and logos, and therefore presents a reasoned, persuasive argument to appeal to the analytical minds of the