Thinking through Technology: The Path between Engineering and Philosophy

Mitcham, Carl

ISBN 10: 0226531988 / ISBN 13: 9780226531984

Published by University of Chicago Press, 1994

Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 1.25. Seller Inventory # G0226531988I5N00

Synopsis:

What does it mean to think about technology philosophically? Why try? These are the issues that Carl Mitcham addresses in this work, a comprehensive, critical introduction to the philosophy of technology and a discussion of its sources and uses.

Tracing the changing meaning of "technology" from ancient times to our own, Mitcham identifies the most important traditions of critical analysis of technology: the engineering approach, which assumes the centrality of technology in human life; and the humanities approach, which is concerned with its moral and cultural boundaries.

Mitcham bridges these two traditions through an analysis of discussions of engineering design, of the distinction between tools and machines, and of engineering science itself. He looks at technology as it is experienced in everyday life—as material objects (from kitchenware to computers), as knowledge ( including recipes, rules, theories, and intuitive "know-how"), as activity (design, construction, and use), and as volition (knowing how to use technology and understanding its consequences). By elucidating these multiple aspects, Mitcham establishes criteria for a more comprehensive analysis of ethical issues in applications of science and technology.

This book will guide anyone wanting to reflect on technology and its moral implications.

From the Back Cover: This work aspires to be a critical introduction to the philosophy of technology. This represents but another step in a continuing concern for the philosophical issues associated with technology.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Thinking through Technology: The Path ...
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Publication Date: 1994
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Fair
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket