Technological determinism
Technological determinism is a reductionist doctrine that a society's technology determines its cultural values, social structure, or history.
Technological determinism has been summarized as 'The belief in technology as a key governing force in society ...' (Merritt Roe Smith), '... the belief that social progress is driven by technological innovation, which in turn follows an "inevitable" course.' (Michael L. Smith), 'The idea that technological development determines social change ...' (Bruce Bimber), '... the belief that technical forces determine social and cultural changes.' (Thomas P. Hughes); '... a three-word logical proposition: "Technology determines history"' (Rosalind Williams)
The term is believed to have been coined by Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929), an American sociologist.
Most interpretations of technological determinism share two general ideas:
- that the development of technology itself follows a path largely beyond cultural or political influence, and
- that technology in turn has "effects" on societies that are inherent, rather than socially conditioned
Technological determinism stands in opposition to the theory of the social construction of technology, which holds that both the path of innovation and the consequences of technology for humans are strongly if not entirely shaped by society itself, through the influence of culture, politics, economic arrangements, and the like.
Technological determinism has been largely discredited within academia, especially by science and technology studies.[citation needed] However, it remains the dominant view within most news media and popular culture.[citation needed]
See also
Bibliography
- Cowan, Ruth Schwarz. More Work for Mother:.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|coauthors=and|month=(help) - Ellul, Jacques (1964). The Technological Society. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|coauthors=and|month=(help) - Noble, David F. (1984). Forces of Production: A Social History of Industrial Automation. Oxford University Press: New York.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|coauthors=and|month=(help) - Smith, Merritt Roe (1994). Does Technology Drive History? The Dilemma of Technological Determinism. Cambridge: MIT Press.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Staudenmaier, S.J., John M. (1985). "The Debate over Technological Determinism". Technology's Storytellers: Reweaving the Human Fabric. Cambridge: The Society for the History of Technology and the MIT Press. pp. 134–148.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|coauthors=and|month=(help) - Winner, Langdon (1977). Autonomous Technology: Technics-Out-of-Control as a Theme in Political Thought. Cambridge: MIT Press.
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