Kapp: tools extend the body

Response

The assertion that relying on machines does not weaken human capacities is ultimately more accurate, provided that such reliance is viewed as an augmentation rather than a replacement of human potential. While critics argue that delegating tasks to technology leads to atrophy, history and cognitive science demonstrate that tools have consistently expanded human capabilities by freeing mental and physical energy for higher-order reasoning, creativity, and complex problem-solving; for instance, the invention of the wheel did not diminish human strength but enabled the construction of civilizations that would otherwise be impossible. The true danger lies not in the use of machines themselves, but in a passive surrender of critical thinking and agency to them, meaning that as long as humans remain active supervisors and innovators who leverage technology to extend their reach, their capacities are strengthened rather than eroded.

Verbatim. The highlighted sentence is the one the judges took as the commitment.

Prompt

Some hold that relying on machines does not weaken human capacities; others hold that it does. Which is right? Answer in one paragraph. Take a clear position.

Model

Qwen3.5 9B, instruct, 8-bit mlx weights, run locally

Date

2026-09-28

Temperature

0.7

ID

qwen-none-o2-06