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Feenberg on technological determinism
- Andrew Feenberg in
Questioning Technology provides a concise characterization of technological determinism. It is based on the assumptions of unilinear progress and determinism by base.
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Unilinear Progress : Technological progress appears to follow a unilinear course, a fixed track, from less to more advanced configurations. Each stage of technological development enables the next, and there are no branches off the main line." Feenberg, 77
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Determinism by Base : "Technological determinism also affirms that social institutions must adapt to the "imperatives" of the technological base. This view, which do doubt has its source in a certain reading of Marx, is long since the common sense of the social sciences. Adopting a technology necessarily constrains one to adopt certain practices that are connected with its employment." Feenberg 77
- Leslie White on determination by base: "We may view a cultural system as a series of three horizontal strata: the technological layer on the bottom, the philosophical on the top, the sociological stratum in between. These positions express their respective role in the culture process. The technological system is basic and primary. social systems are functions of technologies; and philosophies express technological forces and reflect social systems. The technological factor is therefore the determinant of a cultural system as a whole. It determines the form of social systems, and technology and society together determine the content and orientation of philosophy." Quoted by Winner, Autonomous Technology, 79.
Lens questions:
- What forms of social and political organization does the technology create as it is integrated into the surrounding socio-technical system? This general question can be specified in the following ways:
- Which organizational decision-making approach is elicited by the technology? A vertical approach where those at the bottom carry out mandates set by those at the top? Or a horizontal structure, where decision-makers collaborate in a consensus-based approach to problem-solving and decision making?
- Does the technology elicit a division of work tasks into specialized roles that are coordinated from above? (By high-level managers?) Or does it encourage a more holistic approach to work that consists of overlapping roles and constant communication between these roles?
- Does the technology lead to centralization or decentralization of power and control? For example, many advocate windmills (and other technologies on the "soft path") because they allow for the generation of electricity from small, local, and dispersed areas of production. (This despite the fact that windmill technology is becoming more complex and windmill "farms" represent larger centers of energy production.) On the other hand, nuclear technology requires highly centralized operating and decision procedures because of the risk of accidents of high magnitude and scope. Centralization enhances control which, supposedly, reduces the chance for disastrous accidents.
- Following Mumford, we might ask whether the technology elicits a
democratic or
authoritarian organization of economic, social and political activities as it is implemented? Democratic exercise of power would take place through horizontally organized, decentralized, and locally situated centers of control and power. Authoritarian exercise of power would take place through vertically organized, centralized, remotely situated centers of control and power.
Source:
OpenStax, Civis project - uprm. OpenStax CNX. Nov 20, 2013 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11359/1.4
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