Schumacher: Technology as a means to a spiritual end
Goodman: Technology as moral philosophy
Wajcman:
Franke/Chasin -- Kerala as exemplar: what can be done w/o wealth
Schumacher (1973) : "Buddhist Economics" [231-238; Teich 6th edn]
-simplicity and non-violence
-value people over goods, local over global, liberation
-develop the self, learn modesty, produce for a becoming existence
-technology should be tailored to the goal of existence
233. The essence of civilisation is not a multiplication of wants, but, for the Buddhist, the ?
234. "if a man has no chance of obtaining work he is in a desperate position. . " - What similar ideas
appear in Thoreau, Pirsig?
234. "Women, on the whole, do not need an outside job." Comment?
235. If Buddhist economics is the systematic study of how to gain ends with a minimum of means [means
including owning and possessing goods], how does it differ from "modern" economics, which also places a great
value on efficiency?
237. The heedless use of nonrenewable resources constitutes what, in Buddhist eyes?
237/238. Even if Buddhist Economics is a "nostalgic dream," what does it have that modern economics
doesn't?
238. Do you agree that modernisation as we have it [without regard to religious or spiritual values] appears
disastrous for the masses? What is the materialist response.
Paul Goodman (1969): "Can Technology be Humane?" [239-255; T. 6th edn]
- A New Reformation
-calls for prudence, ecology, modesty, decentralization of R&D
241/242.. How does Goodman's idea of science resemble Bronowski's?
242. Is it true that for 300 years science and technology have been "the only generally credited system of
explanation and problems solving"? but are now "inhuman, diabolical" etc.?
243. Do you agree that the "present difficulty" [1970/1995] may be religious and historical?
243. What does Goodman mean when he says technology is a branch of moral philosophy, not of science?
244. What deeper questions should economists and sociologists ask?
245. What is the chief moral criterion of a philosophical technology?
245. Are we technologically overcommitted?
245. Does the quality of life, "past a certain point, diminish with new 'improvements'"?
245. What does G. mean that no country is "rightly technologized"?
245. Would it be possible to give a blank check to research/working models without disaster?
246. What is your opinion of Goodman's claim that technological aid exported to 3rd world countries has
harmed more than helped?
247. What is amenity?
247. What does G. mean when he says that without moral philosophy, people have nothing but sentiments.?
Isn't that just a value judgment?
247. What is prudence?
249. If holism and reductionism both give 'positive results', what are the implications for 'method',
'knowledge', and 'hierarchy of worth'?
249. Why were mobile X-ray buses discontinued?
251ff. What is Goodman's bias? and how does it affect his ideas about centralization?
252. How does Goodman turn the belief, that the majority of big advances have come from small enterprises,
to an argument like Schumacher's?
253. Is it true that "many of those who have grown up since 1945 and have never seen any other state of
science and technology assume that rationalism itself is totally evil and dehumanizing."? True of your
generation? your parents'?
254. What does Goodman find worse than the imperialism, economic injustice, and racism of advanced
industrial societies?
254. What is the biggest industry in the country? and what does Goodman think of it?
255. What is it that makes reform almost impossible?
Walshok: "Blue Collar Women" [256-264; Teich 6th edition]
-Technology creates improved job possibilites for women
automation opened up new [service] jobs; new jobs [esp. maintenance and repair]; office - verdict not in. 4
criteria: productivity, challence, relevance, autonomy.
Action: educate, train, affirmative action.
Johnson (1984) : "Science, Technology, and Black Community Development" [265-282; Teich 6th edn]
-If blacks want social significance and not marginalization, they must learn science and technology
-priority of scientific and technological literacy and participation [how many of you considered dimensions
of gender and race in your technological literacy papers?].
-Ability to cope with future shock, political and economic power. -Problems with [auto (flight/blight), TV
(time sink, negative image), computers (privacy, control), telephone]; agricultural mechanization [changes in
food, nutrition, disease]; energy dependence; biomedicine [new eugenics, racism, organ banks].
Winner (1981) : "Artifact/Ideas and Political Culture" [283-292; Teich 6th edn]
-What kind of a world are we building here?
"secondary" effects swamp primary
Too much technology exists for: control, surveillance, elimination of
sociality, increase dependency on large, remote, indifferent energy systems; automation to deskill worker.
The technology race as "ingenious synthesis of oriental feudalism and
capitalism." [shades of William Gibson and Cyber-punk?]
No innovation without representation [what of laissez-innover?]
No engineering without political deliberation
No means without ends
lest human freedom and dignity "become
obsolete remnants of a bygone era."