Technology and Its Technology and Its Creators: Who’s in Charge Creators: Who’s in Charge

of Whom?of Whom?

Volti Chapter FifteenVolti Chapter Fifteen

Technology and Its Creators: Technology and Its Creators: Who’s in Charge of Whom?Who’s in Charge of Whom?

Technology is a human creation Technology is a human creation One distinctive feature of the human race One distinctive feature of the human race

is that it creates technologies to extend its is that it creates technologies to extend its natural capabilities natural capabilities

Technological DeterminismTechnological Determinism

Everything has a price Everything has a price Technological Determinism - the belief that Technological Determinism - the belief that

technology acts as an independent force in our technology acts as an independent force in our life and thought life and thought

If this is true, we have become the servant of If this is true, we have become the servant of technology rather than its master technology rather than its master

Technology does have a significant impact on Technology does have a significant impact on almost every area of our lives almost every area of our lives

BUT, a purely technological deterministic view is BUT, a purely technological deterministic view is perhaps unwarrantedperhaps unwarranted

Technological Advance and Cultural LagTechnological Advance and Cultural Lag

W. F. Ogburn (Sociologist, 1930’s): Attributed increase of black W. F. Ogburn (Sociologist, 1930’s): Attributed increase of black migration from the South to technology - the automatic stokermigration from the South to technology - the automatic stoker

Allowed for production of more powerful locomotives (longer trains Allowed for production of more powerful locomotives (longer trains and the jobs associated with the railroad)and the jobs associated with the railroad)

Developed concept of Cultural Lag - Habits, thoughts, values, and Developed concept of Cultural Lag - Habits, thoughts, values, and social arrangements often fail to change at the same speed as social arrangements often fail to change at the same speed as technological innovation technological innovation

This theory is not without its flawsThis theory is not without its flaws Social, economic, and political play a part in technological Social, economic, and political play a part in technological

advance advance Also, not all technologies are fully accommodated into culture Also, not all technologies are fully accommodated into culture Some technologies grow quickly, while others languish Some technologies grow quickly, while others languish Also, the implicit notion that technology is progressive while Also, the implicit notion that technology is progressive while

social, cultural elements stand in the way of progress is social, cultural elements stand in the way of progress is unrealistic unrealistic

Convergence Theory Convergence Theory Closely associated with technological determinism Closely associated with technological determinism Opportunities and demands presented by modern technology promote the Opportunities and demands presented by modern technology promote the

convergence of all societies toward a single set of social patterns and convergence of all societies toward a single set of social patterns and individual behaviorindividual behavior Technological development requires a fixed series of steps and stages that all Technological development requires a fixed series of steps and stages that all

countries must follow countries must follow Technology imposes similar organizational constraints on a society Technology imposes similar organizational constraints on a society In response to technological imperatives, values and behavior patterns reflect the In response to technological imperatives, values and behavior patterns reflect the

rational approach to life that was described in the first chapter of Volti book rational approach to life that was described in the first chapter of Volti book Implicit is the expectation that technological advance in non-Western Implicit is the expectation that technological advance in non-Western

countries will result in cultural homogenization (Modernization Theory) countries will result in cultural homogenization (Modernization Theory) Backward" countries will take on the "superior" technology Backward" countries will take on the "superior" technology Some countries, such as China, has had great resistance to this notion - Some countries, such as China, has had great resistance to this notion -

China has overall hostility toward foreign technology China has overall hostility toward foreign technology Third World countries often view foreign technology with apprehension as Third World countries often view foreign technology with apprehension as

wellwell They fear it will disrupt traditional values and practicesThey fear it will disrupt traditional values and practices

Does technology destroy all existing Does technology destroy all existing social and cultural patterns?social and cultural patterns?

This fear is unwarranted to a large extent This fear is unwarranted to a large extent Japan - has maintained traditional values and beliefs in Japan - has maintained traditional values and beliefs in

spite of rapid technological change spite of rapid technological change Brazil - oil workers hold values more similar to farmers in Brazil - oil workers hold values more similar to farmers in

their country than oil workers in India or Ghana their country than oil workers in India or Ghana

"Clearly there are no rigid compulsory relationships "Clearly there are no rigid compulsory relationships between a modern industrial economy and the entirety of between a modern industrial economy and the entirety of its complex, multifaceted environment. Rather there is a its complex, multifaceted environment. Rather there is a wide range of links, direct and indirect, tight and loose, wide range of links, direct and indirect, tight and loose, exclusive and partial, and each industrializing society exclusive and partial, and each industrializing society develops its own combination of elements to fit its develops its own combination of elements to fit its traditions, possibilities, and circumstances." (David traditions, possibilities, and circumstances." (David Landes) Landes)

Technological Change Technological Change and Social Relationships and Social Relationships

"Society" and "Culture" are not objective, neatly organized "Society" and "Culture" are not objective, neatly organized entities entities

There are dominant groups, sub-cultural groups, in-groups, There are dominant groups, sub-cultural groups, in-groups, and out-groups that influence and influenced by technology and out-groups that influence and influenced by technology

"In considering the influence that technology in general or any "In considering the influence that technology in general or any single technology has over human affairs, it is therefore single technology has over human affairs, it is therefore necessary to consider not only the technology and its necessary to consider not only the technology and its presumed ‘imperatives,’ but also the key human agents of the presumed ‘imperatives,’ but also the key human agents of the technology, the organizations in which they operate, and how technology, the organizations in which they operate, and how these influence the course of technological change." these influence the course of technological change."

The role of experts and expertise The role of experts and expertise The impact of organizationsThe impact of organizations The role of governmentThe role of government