Philosophy of Technology: An Introduction

Philosophy of Technology: An Introduction skillfully guides readers through the core philosophical issues raised by technology’s increasingly ubiquitous and powerful presence in society and our daily lives. Considering first the question of what technology is, Dusek goes on to address a wide range of concerns, including technocracy, technological rationality, technological determinism, and varieties of resistance to technology. Penetrating study questions at the end of each chapter provide the necessary tools to critically examine the nature of technology and its impact on our lives. Ideal for undergraduate students in philosophy and science studies, Philosophy of Technology offers an engaging and comprehensive overview of a subject vital to our time.

Introduction. 1. Philosophy of Science and Technology. 2. What is technology? Defining or Characterizing Technology. 3. Technocracy. 4. Rationality, Technological Rationality, and Reason. 5. Phenomenology, Hermeneutics and Technology. 6. Technological Determinism. 7. Autonomous Technology. 8. Human Nature: Tool Making or Language?. 9. Women, Feminism and Technology. 10. Non–Western Technology and Local Knowledge. 11. Anti–Technology: Romanticism, Luddism and the Ecology Movement. 12. Social Constructionism and Actor Network Theory. Bibliography. Index.

Val Dusek is Professor of Philosophy at the University of New Hampshire. His recent publications include Holistic Inspirations of Physics: An Underground History of Electromagnetic Theory (1999) and Philosophy of Technology – The Technological Condition: An Anthology (co–edited with Robert C. Scharff, Blackwell 2003).

“Dusek’s range of expertise is impressive, and his generous conception of what topics a philosophy of technology should consider is timely. In this field where there is not yet a ‘mainstream’ viewpoint, too few writers appreciate the importance of such wide coverage. Fewer still are knowledgeable enough to speak in all of these areas out of their own understanding. Val Dusek is and does. His book is precisely what the field now needs .” Robert C. Scharff, University of New Hampshire<!––end––> “Val Dusek’s Philosophy of Technology offers students a comprehensive overview of the frequently neglected relationship between philosophy of science and technology by discussing classics like Heidegger and Marx and bringing them into dialogue with contemporaries such as Ellul and Ihde as well as feminist and ecological thinking.” Thomas Achen, Linköping University “The breadth of coverage is very impressive. Clearly written, understandable and comprehensive. Its breadth and clarity of expression make it a welcome addition to the literature.” Journal of Information, Communication & Ethics in Society