“Technology both enables us to produce knowledge and limits the knowledge that is produced.” Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
“Technology” was a tool that made humans to the top of the food chain, a tool that allowed us to move from backdoor farming to large industrial factories, a tool that allowed to us live on every continent on the Earth and even explore Space, yet nobody ever asked “isn’t it just too much for a simple “tool” to accomplish”? Is it our human knowledge that lies within this tool and is the key factor behind the acquired results? To explore the etymological connection between the technology and knowledge generated through it, the question of “what we refer to and call as technology” has to be answered first. After the point of interest is defined and clearly stated, we will descend and examine technologies connection to the acquired knowledge through the prism of history and natural sciences.
The “linking” of the knowledge and technology is a very old concept that could be traced back to the “Nicomachean Ethics” of Aristotle: “Now since the architecture has become the art and is essentially a reasoned state of capacity to make, ... , art is identical with the state of capacity to make, involving the true course of reasoning”. The reference to architecture makes it clear that the point of our interest “technology” falls under Aristotle’s term of “art”, it is also equally clear what association of “art” and “knowledge” was created. Aristotle was the first philosopher to realize the connection between two Greek philosophical ideas of “episteme” (knowledge) and “techne” (art), to him these terms might have been manifested, but he would not have them confused with the things produced. It is also ...
... middle of paper ...
...new knowledge and the technologist’s role becomes to apply to the knowledge generated elsewhere to practical use. And this sentence is precisely the core of the theory that influenced Alfred Rupert Hall’s “History of Technology”, and ascertain other historians to be introduced into the writing of the history of technology.
It is quite possible that some historians of science were led to such view on the science-technological relations in an attempt to reduce the influence coming from the Marxists and Communist beliefs putting the science to the level of the superstructure for material forces. Technology itself might have possibly be the biggest reason for “paradigm shifts” during entire course of human history. Be at Galileo, Copernicus, Marxism or Capitalism technology has shaped within itself not only the view of the human minds, but the way that the world works.
is the driver of technology; and the technology, in turn, is driving fundamental changes in
“The term technology refers to the use of scientific knowledge to develop practical needs for controlling physical objects and...
“The Social Construction of Facts and Artifacts” is about "integrated social constructivist approach towards the study of science and technology"(pg 399). The author's Pinch and Bijker discuss that even though it has been a practice to separate science and technology, but they are hugely connected because of this they might benefit from each other. The authors discuss about the three main parts of science and technology termed as "Sociology of science", "the science technology relationship" and the "technology studies".
Pinch, Trevor J. and Wiebe E. Bijker. "The Social Construction of Facts and Artefacts: Or How the Sociology of Science and the Sociology of Technology Might Benefit Each Other. "Social Studies of Science: 399-441.
17.) Technology - refers o both tools and know how. Tools allow human to do more know-how is the ability to solve problems systematically.
The two authors define the word as, “technology has come to describe the overall system of machines and processes” and “technology is not a natural object but one made by humans” (p. 4). Murphie and Potts write that culture is hard to define. However, they distinguish
...icture", The Question of Technology and Other Essays. Trans. by William Levitt. (New York: Harper and Row Pub., 1977.), 127.
For the purpose of this paper, I will go into depth on Feenberg’s critical theory of technology; however, in order to understand this theory, we must briefly examine his two other theories of technology, which are the substantive, and the instrumental theories of technology.
Technology is crucial in influencing society, therefore it is imperative to understand what influences technological development and how it changes society, such as social shaping and theories of technological determinism. Langdon Winner supports the social determination of technology through the findings of others and his theories of politically influenced technologies, thus Winner accounts for technological determinism through defining the theory in this context.
Although the power source of social development is the advancement of technology, technology discovery is just a part of the system and it is an integral part, but only "essential" conditions, rather than "full" conditions. Anyway, the article has made the readers to think that the scientific process is not inevitable, but if without technology, people cannot live in this highly developed world. “Scientific knowledge is not inevitable” (Andrew Irvine). There is no guarantee that scientific progress will keep increasing. As long as people have the belief to live better, the scientific progress is not essential or necessary to exist.
Ever since the dawn of time, curiosity has driven mankind into the intriguing revolution of technology. Beginning with simple, fire-starting techniques by use of stick and stone and advancing into complex, space-exploring odysseys, civilization has created endless scientific and technological discoveries. By looking at this developmental progress, one can notice that culture as a whole has been and will continue to be affected by technology. In an era where this kind of change is rapidly increasing, there are those who are afraid of its power. But do these concerns outweigh the amount of positive influence that ever-evolving industrial science brings?
There is no doubt that the accomplishments made through technology are astonishing. Technology has made amazing impacts on everything from science in space to medical science to the devices we use every day that make our lives easier. People are living longer and better than ever before, but we can’t forget how to live without it. “Just because technology is there and makes something easier doesn’t mean we should rely on it so much that we can’t think for ourselves,” (Levinson).
Technology has rapidly changed over the years and has expanded our infrastructure greatly. In particular, as technology advances the education system adapts to the many changes. The world of technology brings about many new improvements and shows no sign of slowing down. Many people spend their day to day lives utilizing the great aspects of technology doing almost anything imaginable. Through technology teachers and students can connect and expound upon the many fields of education. Technology is an ever growing aid in education that has increased awareness, communication, and accessibility. How is technology shaping education? The uses of mobile devices and applications have shown a great influence in the education system.
Technology, as we all know, is helping and improving many disciplines of life. Technology, in Britannica Encyclopedia, is defined as the application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life. (Britannica, 2009)
What is technology? A definition of technology literacy might well begin with a definition of technology. Technology consists of all the modifications humans have made in the natural environment for their own purposes (Dugger 2001)—inventions, innovations, and changes intended to meet our wants and needs, to live longer, more productive lives. Such a broad definition of technology includes a broad spectrum of artifacts, ranging from the age-old (flint tools, wheels, levers) to the high-tech (computers, multimedia, biotechnologies). In short, if humans thought of it and made it, it’s technology.