Thinking Through Technology : The Path Between Engineering and Philosophy
Mitcham, Carl
ISBN 10: 0226531988 ISBN 13: 9780226531984
Published by University of Chicago Press, 1994
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Soft cover
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Better World Books, Mishawaka, IN, U.S.A.
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About this Item
Description:
Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good. Seller Inventory # 17194379-20
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.
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Bibliographic Details
Title: Thinking Through Technology : The Path ...
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Publication Date: 1994
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: Very Good