SOC3061 – Lecture02 Technological Determinism

A theory about technology A theory about technology A theory about society A theory about society Extreme version: Lynn White (1978) Softer versions: Smith and Marx (1994)

The main problem with approaches based on TD: Technological change is considered as an independent factor impacting on society from outside. The question is how to adapt to it, rather than how to shape it (TD removes the shaping of technology from the sphere of public discussion). Technological change is considered as an independent factor impacting on society from outside. The question is how to adapt to it, rather than how to shape it (TD removes the shaping of technology from the sphere of public discussion).

Case-study: Langdon Winner (SST) Technologies are not neutral. They are inherently political. 1. Robert Moses, New York City planner (naturalising social inequality) (naturalising social inequality) 2. Chicago moulding machines (against neoclassical economic theory) (against neoclassical economic theory) 3. Neglecting the disabled in urban planning (tech builds an order in our world) (tech builds an order in our world)

Donna Haraway (SST) Critique of TD does not imply being anti- technology. She is for embracing the positive potential of science and technology (technoscience) Against patenting forms of life, but in favour of the creation of new entities such as cyborgs produced by biotechnologies (“new worlds”, “good surprises”)

How does technology change, actually? Brian Arthur (SST): increasing returns to adoption. (e.g. QWERTY keyboard) Brian Arthur (SST): increasing returns to adoption. (e.g. QWERTY keyboard) Cynthia Cockburn (SST): beliefs about gender shape technology (e.g. fighter cockpit); and the other way around Cynthia Cockburn (SST): beliefs about gender shape technology (e.g. fighter cockpit); and the other way around Richard Dyer (SST): the mutual constitution of ethnicity and technology. The case of skin colour in early film- making. Richard Dyer (SST): the mutual constitution of ethnicity and technology. The case of skin colour in early film- making.

Case-study: Schatzberg (1994) America, 1920s-1930s: the shift from wood- made planes to metal-made planes (aluminium) Why? Standard story: metal was inherently superior In reality it was equal or inferior to wood re: resistance to fire, weight, cost (buckling problem)

Schatzberg (2) The debate was about “metal” and “wood” rather than specific materials Different reactions to crashes and shortage Plausible interpretation: a specific ideology of progress, shared by American engineers, attached opposite symbolic values to metal and wood. Different ideologies > different choices