The cost of technological progress exposed in Faust, the accident, the life of Galileo, Oppenheimer and the physicistsSince the beginning of time, man has taken every possible step to advance technology. Advances in medicine, aviation, science and other fields have made our world a better place to live. But there have also been technological advances that may have caused far greater harm to humanity than the benefits they brought. Through their works, five German authors ask readers a very difficult question: Is technology really worth it? These authors have many common themes. In this essay, I will discuss these themes and how they relate to the social cost of technological progress. The first play I read last semester was “Faust” by Goethe. This play centers on the life of the scientist and doctor Faust. Faust is a very intelligent man who excelled in life as a scientist and doctor. Although everyone admires him and thinks he is a great man, he still thinks he doesn't know enough. He believes that every piece of knowledge that must be attained must be attained. This belief, coupled with the unhappiness he possesses in life, leads him to make the ultimate decision which, in turn, ruins both his life and the lives of others, all because he was selfish, that he wanted to know everything and he couldn't do it. all alone. Faust made a bet with Mephistopheles, the devil. This bargaining with the devil is something the mind should never know about. Two people ended up dying because of Faust's involvement in their lives because of that little bet he made with Mephisto. And the only question we can ask ourselves is “was it really worth watching others die just so he could be happy?” »And the answer is no. He saw the woman he loved and his brother die before him because of his selfishness, his desire to milk life and knowledge for all they were worth. And what did Faust gain? In my opinion, nothing. He only lost. There are some things in the world worth knowing about. Some things are even worth going through great hardship to know. But in Faust's case, he was childish, immature and selfish. He became so depressed that he had to find out more, even though most people would have killed to be as lucky as him..