[Air-L] Definition of technology?

[Svein Sando]

Hi

I will recommend
Scharff, R. & Dusek, Val (eds.) (2003). Philosophy of Technology. The Technological Condition. An Anthology. Blackwell Publishing.

You might also consider using Aristotle and his description of téchnē, which is kind of mother of all other thoughts about what technology is about. Read his Nicomachean Ethics (NE), Book VI ch. 4. Téchnē may be translated as art, craftsmanship or skill. Téchnē in NE put in connection with episteme (scientific knowledge) and phrónēsis (practical wisdom). Téchnē differentiates itself from episteme in that episteme is about demonstration (→facts)  whereas téchnē is something that you can deliberate about. Phrónēsis is also something you can deliberate about, but where phrónēsis has itself as an end (human happiness/flourishment, eudaimonia), that is not true about téchnē. Thus téchnē is instrumental. Aristotle uses architecture (oikodomene) as one example of téchnē.


Svein Sando, Professor
Queen Maud University College of Early Childhood Education
Thrond Nergaards Veg 7
NO-7044 TRONDHEIM
Norway
Phone +47 73805226 – Email ses at dmmh.no – Website https://www2.dmmh.no/~ses/index.php?nid=1&eng=1




-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: Air-L <air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org> På vegne av Ana Visan
Sendt: onsdag 8. april 2020 02:23
Til: Air-L at listserv.aoir.org
Emne: [Air-L] Definition of technology?

Dear AoIRs,

I am a migration and border studies scholar researching how technologies (from mobile phones to drones to databases) affect migration journeys. I am not familiar with STS scholarship and I was hoping you could help by pointing me to some (seminal?) works that might help me formulate an all-encompassing definition of technology (or a theoretical approach to it), beyond ICTs—i.e. one that includes biometrics, information exchange databases, but also material objects like drones, and/or one that addresses both technology “used by” as well as technology “used on.”

Many thanks in advance,

Ana


+1 519 502 3310
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