Technological Determinism

An overview

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM?

coined by Thorstein Veblem

Marshall McLuhan:“The medium IS the message.”

"Technology determines history" Rosalind Williams

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM?

technology drives the development of its social structure and cultural values

society organizes itself in such a way to support and further develop a technology once it has been introduced.

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM?

follows its own predictable, traceable path

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM?

Technology created:

“the steam age” “the electrical age” “the information

age”

“Can’t stop progress” "societies fail to be

aware of the alternatives to the values embedded in it [technology]" Merrit Roe Smith

How is it manifested?

The design of technology tends to dictate users' behaviors

“[technology’s] functions follow from its form“ Neil Postman

How is it manifested?

Hard Determinists-We have no choice regarding the outcome. Technology will determine this.

Soft Determinists-Technology is the guiding force of our evolution but we have a chance to make decisions.

How is it manifested?

What are the pitfalls of technological determinism?

What are the pitfalls of technological determinism?

One-sided perspective

No ‘free will’ because technology will lead us rather than society itself

Fails to consider social and political needs

What are the dangers of ignoring technological determinism?

We will not be critical of technology since it is the technology that will determine how society will evolve

How viable is this notion-- is there any justification for it?Throughout

history technology has impacted, if not directed, the evolution of societies:◦ Written word◦ Printing press◦ Telephone◦ Internet

How viable is this notion-- is there any justification for it?

◦ Most scholars are skeptic of this view of technology

◦ “The relationship between technology and society cannot be reduced to a simplistic cause-and-affect formula. It is, rather, an ‘intertwining’”, whereby technology does not determine but "...operates, and are operated upon in a complex social field" (Murphie and Potts, page 21)

References1. Chandler, D. (unknown).

Technological or media determinism. Retrieved June 2, 2009, from http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/Documents/tecdet/tecdet.html

2. Kimble, C. (unknown). Retrieved June 2, 2009, from http://www.chris-kimble.com/Courses/cis/cis4.html

3. Murphie, A., & Potts, J. (2003). Culture and technology. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire ; New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

4. Postman, Neil. (1992). Technopoly. Vintage: New York. pp. 3–20.