Technology and Society Perspectives

Study Notes

The text discusses the two perspectives on the relationship between technology and society: the instrumentalist perspective, which sees technology as an instrument that can be used to achieve certain goals, and the anthropologico-instrumentalist perspective, which sees technology as a neutral force that has its own norms and logic.
The instrumentalist perspective is dominant in the modern world, where we believe that the development of technology will always lead to greater social and economic progress. However, the anthropologico-instrumentalist perspective is more realistic, acknowledging that technology can have negative effects on society if not used responsibly.
Both perspectives have their benefits and drawbacks, and it is ultimately up to the individual to decide which perspective they believe is closer to the truth.
The industrialization of the production of culture refers to the process of making large quantities of standardized products for mass consumption.
The subjectivities of millions of people are subjected to the capitalist logics of marketplaces.
The destruction of artistic creation is a potential result of the technological development.
The social construction of technology is influenced by the power dynamics of relationships.
The principle of symmetry holds that we should pay equal attention to the failures of technological development as we do to the successes.
The risk of a "technology black hole" in which alternative technologies are forgotten and where modes of life and interactions with the world (culture) are associated with them, is a concern.
The substantialist approach to culture tends to focus on particular cases and to ignore the actors who do not access the negotiation techniques.
The cultural specificity or universalism of the development of technology is not addressed.
The focus on micro-level analysis risks privileging certain perspectives over others.