Message-ID: <9610071615.AA17567@lan.vita.org> Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 12:15:13 EDT From: Gary Garriott <mailto:garyg@VITA.ORG> Subject: Tech & Values To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Further to the "goodness," "badness" or "neutrality" of technology, reference is made to the 1970's era book: "the Politics of Alternative Technology (NY:Universe Books, 1975) which makes a strong case that values of the creators are imbedded/inherent in any technology, specifically (pp. 37-38) "alternative technology is now attracting a growing number of advocates (who believe that)....The roots of alternative technology are to be found equally in the social and political critiques of....the anti-human and alienating aspects of contemporary technology..."Dealing with the "two-edged sword" aspect of all technology (it both creates and destroy values), Denis Goulet in a thoughtful book from the same era: "The Uncertain Promise - Value Conflicts in Technology Transfer" (NY:IDOC/North America, 1977) makes essentially the same point in that the problem "is not technology itself but the successful management of it, which requires wisdom and clarity as to the kind of society desired and the ways in which technology can help construct it."
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