Philosophies Of Technology

Ideal for professors who want to provide a comprehensive set of the most important readings in the philosophy of technology, from foundational to the cutting edge, this book introduces students to the various ways in which societies, technologies, and environments shape one another. The readings examine the nature of technology as well as the effects of technologies upon human knowledge, activities, societies, and environments. Students will learn to appreciate the ways that philosophy informs our understanding of technology, and to see how technology relates to ethics, politics, nature, human nature, computers, science, food, and animals.

This book provides an introduction to the philosophy of technology that is accessible to non-philosophers. It offers a survey of the current state-of-affairs in the philosophy of technology and also discusses the relevance of that for teaching about technology. The book includes questions and assignments and offers an extensive annotated bibliography for those who want to read more about the discipline.

Ideal for undergraduate students in philosophy and science studies,Philosophy of Technology offers an engaging andcomprehensive overview of a subject vital to our time. An up-to-date, accessible overview of the philosophy oftechnology, defining technology and its characteristics. Explores the issues that arise as technology becomes anintegral part of our society. In addition to traditional topics in science and technologystudies, the volume offers discussion of technocracy, the romanticrebellion against technology. Complements The Philosophy of Technology: The TechnologicalCondition: An Anthology, edited by Robert C. Scharff and ValDusek (Blackwell, 2003).

The new edition of this authoritative introduction to thephilosophy of technology includes recent developments in thesubject, while retaining the range and depth of its selection ofseminal contributions and its much-admired editorialcommentary. Remains the most comprehensive anthology on the philosophy oftechnology available Includes editors’ insightful section introductions andcritical summaries for each selection Revised and updated to reflect the latest developments in thefield Combines difficult to find seminal essays with a judiciousselection of contemporary material Examines the relationship between technology and theunderstanding of the nature of science that underlies technologystudies

Technology and Society provides an up-to-date introduction to the basic issues that have come to define the philosophy of technology: What is “technology”? Does technology control our lives? What is technology’s relation to ethics? How does technology influence us? Is the widespread belief in technological progress justified? Later sections of the book examine the application of philosophy of technology to social issues such as climate change, urban sprawl, and automation. Major issues and arguments are presented in an accessible and non-technical fashion, giving the reader a firm foundation in the field.

This edited volume explores the interplay between philosophies in a wide-ranging analysis of how technological applications in science inform our systems of thought. Beginning with a historical background, the volume moves on to explore a host of topics, such as the uses of technology in scientific observations and experiments, the salient relationship between technology and mechanistic notions in science and the ways in which today’s vast and increasing computing power helps scientists achieve results that were previously unattainable. Technology allows today’s researchers to gather, in a matter of hours, data that would previously have taken weeks or months to assemble. It also acts as a kind of metaphor bank, providing biologists in particular with analogies (the heart as a ‘pump’, the nervous system as a ‘computer network’) that have become common linguistic currency. This book also examines the fundamental epistemological distinctions between technology and science and assesses their continued relevance. Given the increasing amalgamation of the philosophies of science and technology, this fresh addition to the literature features pioneering work in a promising new field that will appeal both to philosophers and scientific historiographers.

First published in 2003. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

As the field of Science and Technology Studies (STS) has become more established, it has increasingly hidden its philosophical roots. While the trend is typical of disciplines striving for maturity, Steve Fuller, a leading figure in the field, argues that STS has much to lose if it abandons philosophy. In his characteristically provocative style, he offers the first sustained treatment of the philosophical foundations of STS and suggests fruitful avenues for further research. With stimulating discussions of the Science Wars, the Intelligent Design Theory controversy, and theorists such as Donna Haraway and Bruno Latour, Philosophy of Science and Technology Studies is required reading for students and scholars in STS and the philosophy of science.