John Nye's Technological Determinism

Chapter two begins with an intriguing question. Does technology control us? The answer, it depends who you are. Again Nye provides many stories to discuss the question. He talks about current advances that many people would have a difficult time imagining not having or using. To contrast this, he gives examples of societies that chose to reject advances in technology. He includes the examples of Japan’s rejection of guns, and religious groups such as the Amish or Mennonites, who carefully consider the effects of any technology on their society before adopting it. He points out that a common view is that mechanical systems are deterministic or inevitable. However, there are several beliefs that counter that including Werner Sombart

W asks, Can technology "embody specific forms of power and authority" (19). He reviews the ideas of Kropotikin, Morris Hayes, Lillienthal, Boorstein and Mumford on his way to answering his question. For example, Hayes states that "deployment of nuclear power facilities must lead society toward authoritarianism" because of safety concerns (19-20). W believes "that technical systems of various kinds are deeply interwoven in the conditions of modern politics [and further, that the] physical arrangements of industrial production, warfare, communications, and the like have fundamentally changed the exercise of power and the experience of citizenship" (20). Indeed, "human ends are powerfully transformed as they are adapted to technical means" (21).

To conclude, the choices that humans make with technology affect this Earth. It could either be a negative outcome like destruction or it could be positive and be a spark of a new hope. As this society continues with these old ways which have already exceeded our humanity, they are just creating more destruction. If humankind can change these ways, there could be hope for a fresh start, and a new beginning. All in all, let’s stop this technology from exceeding humanity and begin

Promise and Peril by Ray Kurzweil is an essay about the future of technology and what benefits and risks it will present to the world. It focuses on the fields of genetic engineering, nanotechnology, and robotics, or GNR. Kurzweil wrote this essay as a response to an article Bill Joy wrote called Why The Future Doesn't Need Us. Joy also focuses his article on the topic of GNR technologies, but writes from a pessimistic point of view, as opposed to the optimistic stance taken by Kurzweil. Joy foresees future advances and paints a portrait of a world where technology is ultimately harmful to humans and could possibly challenge the survival of our race. He introduces the concept of relinquishment, where humankind as a whole chooses to dismiss

In his essay, “Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change,” Neil Postman brings up a plethora of ideas on the topic of our ever-changing landscape in the technological world, discussing at length the problems of technology and culture. In his first point, Postman states that “technology giveth, and technology taketh away” (Postman, 27). His argument insists that in a culture swept up in technology, humans do not stop and ask questions regarding the possible detriments of new inventions. He continues on to say that though technology favours some individuals, it may harm others, or neglect a group of people entirely. In spite of this, humans continue to use and expand upon technologies as they emerge. Next, the author discusses how

In his article, “What are People For”, Wendell Berry muses that technological progress serves no purpose in the grand scheme of things, cynically notes that the “higher aims of ‘technological progress’ are money and ease”. By condoning this materialistic outlook of life that afflicts society with a “cultish faith in the future”, Berry urges his audience to consider taking part in a community that appreciates life in the present. Berry heralds truth in his argument that technological advancement, even ones made with good intentions, inevitably contaminates society because it enables twisted misuse of power and serves to strain human relationships.

To define technological determinism is an approach in technology or technological advances, as a central element in the process of social change. Technology is stabilized, its tend is design to dictate the behavior of users, which diminishing the human agency. Social and cultural circumstances in which technology is developed, however ignores this stance. As we watch The Apple Special Event, Apple’s new product line is an example of technological determinism. Apple product make users feel they need the newest and latest products that they offer. Radio Wars showed technological determinism as the radio change. From how people used AM radio then they discovered FM radio and people switch from AM to FM. Once satellite radio was created people

At what point will society place a dependence upon technological advancements rather than the curiosity and interactions of mankind? With the constant acceleration of improvements within technology and any piece of information readily available many authors, artists, and individuals question the natural world as each generation more elaborately explores the innovative approaches towards science and technology. E.M. Forster’s short story, “The Machine Stops,” is based upon a fear of the technological revolution, and it introduces the audience to a utopian society facing multiple forms of isolation as a result of his society reaching complete dependence upon the technology of the Machine. The society’s reliance upon the Machine creates a divide between those who display an adoration and worship towards the Machine versus citizens who prevail and fight for their individual freedom. E.M. Forster illustrates the role he foresees technology to play in the end of human civilization through an exaggerated vision of the effects that technology leaves on our lives, which helps the audience to better understand our present day society properly.

The future is an interesting subject. Any little choice or action could change the future for the better or worse. In the stories “Harrison Bergeron”, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., and “By the Waters of Babylon”, by Stephen Vincent Benet, we read about two distinctly different futures affected by technology. Both have terrible outcomes but the difference is great and let me explain why.

In chapter 2 Nye, starts the chapter with a main question does technology control us? He begins by stating things that we could not imagine living without and to contrast this he gives us examples of societies that chose to reject certain advances in technology. One example is the rejection of guns by Japan, they adopted guns for Portuguese traders, learned how to make them and gave up bow and sword. Only to later leave them for what people believe were cultural reasons. He also describes how there are still certain groups or societies that abolish technology like the Amish and Mennonites. They do not allow devices before prior evaluation on how it could impact the community. He continues to share different stories to discuss the question however the question remains unanswered.

In chapter six of Radical Evolution, author Joel Garreau shows through various interviews and examples that even though technology may be rising on an exponentially increasing Curve, humans may still be able to change the effects of technological advance in unpredictable ways. Deemed the Prevail scenario, it is also characterized by humans slowing down once-viewed inevitable change viewed as negative and speeding up positive change. Another great theme of the Prevail Scenario is its idea that technological advance will enable humans to acquire a better understanding of their society and nature. In addition to discussing the Prevail scenario, Garreau also discusses the possible change humans

Arnold Pacey published Technology in World Civilization: A Thousand Year History in the year 1991. Arnold Pacey was an associate lecturer at The Open University in Britain as well as an author to three additional books: Meaning in Technology, The Maze of Ingenuity, The Culture of Technology. He published all four of his books within a ten-year span. Arnold Pacey was trained as an engineer but is well known as a historian of technology because of the conclusions he drew of society and technology and their relationship. Society is defined as the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community. Technology is defined as the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. Technology influences every aspect of our lives today, but we often forget that it profoundly affected the lives of past generations dating back to the beginning of civilization. Perhaps not to today’s extent, but the impact was still dramatic. New inventions or innovations produced more food, created new processes and tools, made life easier and made war more devastating. This course traces the evolution of technology and its impact on civilization from the creation of elementary tools up to today’s latest devices and even looks into future technologies.

In chapter 5 Nye discusses two key themes, uniformity or diversity? He discusses how technology can make a culture the same or different. He gives several examples of both uniformity and diversity. He begins with the internet boom, and describes how a group of cyber-libertarians released a manifesto called “Cyberspace and the American Dream: A Magna Carta for the Knowledge Age”. Nye pg 67. Continues by stating one of their assertions “Turning the economics of mass production inside out, new information technologies are driving the financial cost of diversity-both production and personal-down towards zero, ‘demassifying’ our institutions and our culture. Accelerating demassification creates the potential for vastly increased human freedom”

Technological determinism is a term developed by Marshal McLuhan, a theorist in the study of new media. By technological determinism, McLuhan refers to technology having the power to change societies and influence our cultures. In this essay I will argue that technology does have the power to change society and influence a civilization, using ideas put forward by Marshal McLuhan. I will also discuss the debate around technological determinism recognizing the claims made by Raymond Williams that society shapes technology as we look back at its emergence and their subsequent control.

Individuals interpret technological determinism in everyday life, current technology change the way in which we learn, feel and think the way we do because of the messages we receive through them.