we reflect on how we, as individuals and as a society, interact with technology. Are
our technologies developed for human well-being, adapted to human needs and purposes? Or are we, humans, continually forced to adapt to technology? A common belief is that technology allows us to become more fully human, both by reducing the need for human labor and by increasing efficiency, convenience, and comfort. Machines work so that we do not have to. For some, that is progress –technological change is synonymous with progress. Others are more ambivalent. They argue that technology is not a mere instrument. Rather, technology shapes human goals, values, practices, and
relationships. So, to regard technology as a mere instrument is, in the end, to instrumentalize ourselves and society as well.
We will use various texts in IAH 206: videos, two podcasts, philosophical and social scientific essays, short stories and novels. But the course is organized around two foundational readings. “What is Philosophy of Technology?” (Andrew Feenberg) presents four paradigmatic ways of thinking about the meaning of technology. The Critical Media Literacy Guide (Douglas Kellner and Jeff Share) exemplifies one philosophical approach to technology, Critical Theory. The central idea of the book is that the concept of literacy today must include digital literacy, and that such literacy is best gained by creating as well as studying digital texts. The aim of critical media literacy is to strengthen democracy
– specifically, democratic decision-making about technological design and development. Both these readings will frame and inform our approach to course texts.
our technologies developed for human well-being, adapted to human needs and purposes? Or are we, humans, continually forced to adapt to technology? A common belief is that technology allows us to become more fully human, both by reducing the need for human labor and by increasing efficiency, convenience, and comfort. Machines work so that we do not have to. For some, that is progress –technological change is synonymous with progress. Others are more ambivalent. They argue that technology is not a mere instrument. Rather, technology shapes human goals, values, practices, and
relationships. So, to regard technology as a mere instrument is, in the end, to instrumentalize ourselves and society as well.
We will use various texts in IAH 206: videos, two podcasts, philosophical and social scientific essays, short stories and novels. But the course is organized around two foundational readings. “What is Philosophy of Technology?” (Andrew Feenberg) presents four paradigmatic ways of thinking about the meaning of technology. The Critical Media Literacy Guide (Douglas Kellner and Jeff Share) exemplifies one philosophical approach to technology, Critical Theory. The central idea of the book is that the concept of literacy today must include digital literacy, and that such literacy is best gained by creating as well as studying digital texts. The aim of critical media literacy is to strengthen democracy
– specifically, democratic decision-making about technological design and development. Both these readings will frame and inform our approach to course texts.