Lecture 2

Question 1

What is Dr. Ede definition of technology?

Answer 1

• Technology is a system not merely a collection of artifacts
• It allows us to solve real-world problems but is not always visible
• Examples include ‘solet/invisible’ technologies like education, government, and the economy

Question 2

What are the three major historiographical approaches to understand technology?

Answer 2

Internal Approach (Great Man Theory)
- Focuses on the ‘nuts and bolts’ of inventions
- Highlights independent inventors or geniuses

External Approach (Social Determinism)
- Emphasizes the societal factors shaping technology (ex. Religion, norms)

Interactive View
- A two-way relationship where technology influences society and vice versa

Question 3

What is the primary criticism of the Internal Approach (Great Man Theory)?

Answer 3

• It ignores the contributions of forgotten inventors
• It is overly positive, portraying technology as always beneficial
• It focuses exclusively on men and the myth of inborn genius

Question 4

What is the criticism of the External Approach (Social Determinism)

Answer 4

• It neglects the role of independent ideas and individual creativity
• Assumes society always controls technology, which is not always the case (ex. Technological momentum)

Question 5

What is an example of the Interactive View of Technology in action?

Answer 5

Dr. Andrew Ede’s work, which integrates social, cultural, and technological factors to show the mutual influence of society and technology

Question 6

What is the ‘unidirectional model’ of technological determinism, and why is it flawed?

Answer 6

It views technology as shaping society in a one-way, always positive manner, This model ignores negative outcomes (ex. mustard gas, nuclear weapons) and denies societal influence on technological development

Question 7

How does Robert Merton’s work relate to the External Approach?

Answer 7

In Puritanism and the Rise of Modern Science, Merton argued that religion and societal factors significantly influenced the development of modern science and technology

Question 8

Why does Dr. Ede combine all three approaches in his analysis of technology?

Answer 8

Each approach has limitations, and combining them offers a more comprehensive understanding of the interplay between technology and society

Question 9

What are ‘silent/invisible technologies?

Answer 9

Systems that significantly impact our loves but are not always recognized as technology. Ex. education, government, and economy

Question 10

What does the Evolutionary Model assume about technology?

Answer 10

• It assumes that technology evolves linearly from primitive to complex, always improving.
• Critics argue this view is overly simplistic and fails to account for regressive or neutral developments