Instrument
The instrument is the tool, the device, that is wielded to do the deed. Like a sword, the sword itself does not do the deed, the wielder of the sword directs the actions to either cut some weeds or lop off someone’s head. The \point is that we ought not blame the sword. An instrument is finely made, crafted, fashioned by a craftsperson. Thus, a stick is not in the same category as the venerable sword
A person used by another person is an instrument, that which does the actual work, but on behalf of another. Like the thermometer measures the temperature for the scientist to see. The instrument is far more sensitive than a person can be. The microscope is a highly sensitive instrument in aid of the human eye. The implement/instrument is directed by a person, extending what the person could do unaided
Musical instruments could be defined by any device or object that can make a consistent repeatable sound. My vote then goes with the drum, a stick tapping on… whatever, but most pleasing when tapping on something hollow. Wikipedia says that mention of instruments in history goes back 67,000 years. After the drum, the oldest musical instrument is the flute. Pleasing to hear, compact to carry
A document which formally describes a financial transaction, legislation or a contract is called an instrument. Then we have how something or some person is deemed instrumental in affecting an effect. Greta Thunberg is an example of a human instrument and her actions are affecting shifts in the thinking of the whole world about climate issues. Double wow as she is yet a teenager shifting our thinking
Instruments are tuned to be used for specific and often difficult tasks. The Hubble telescope ‘looks’ out beyond the edges of our Galaxy. An electron microscope looks at the molecular level. Both extend what humans can do. They are not interchangeable. A scalpel is meant to be used for surgery, not carpentry. We, us humans, are meant to act in some ways, and not in others. Hmmm? How are we deploying the instruments that we are?