expression, noun
modern convenience; blessings of civilization
Refers to tools, devices, or systems that make life easier thanks to modern technology and social progress. Often used with a slightly appreciative or ironic tone.
スマートフォンは現代の文明の利器だ。
Smartphones are a modern convenience of our civilization.
文明の利器に頼りすぎると、自分で考える力が衰えるかもしれない。
If we rely too much on the blessings of civilization, our ability to think for ourselves might decline.
A set phrase composed of 文明 (civilization) + の (possessive particle) + 利器 (sharp tool; useful instrument). The exact origin is uncertain, but it has been used since the Meiji era to describe new technologies and conveniences brought by modernization.