Technological Determinism: It is an ideology that considers technology as

being the primary reason for the growth and progress of a society.

Social Constructionism: It believes that technology develops as a result of

social, cultural, or economic factors, rather than being the reason for social
growth. It is the exact opposite of technological determinism.

Human Control
Technological Determinism: Being a type of determinism, it believes that the
growth of our civilization is beyond human control, which has attracted
significant criticism.

Social Constructionism: This philosophy believes that humans can play a main
role to actively shape their history, culture, and politics.
Autonomy of Technology
Technological Determinism: The development of technology is regarded as an
autonomous process that occurs independently of society, because of scientific
and rational factors.

Social Constructionism: Technology does not develop autonomously, but is a

result of discussions between influential social groups, who reach a compromise
between their varying opinions to produce the final product or design.
Effects of Technology
Technological Determinism: It believes that technology has a predictable
impact on society, its characteristics determine its final impact, and it is unbiased
and nonpolitical in nature.

Social Constructionism: It believes that technological impacts cannot be

predicted, but depend on how technology is utilized. The opinions of social
groups determine its final impact, and technology is routinely used for political
and economic benefits.
Criticism


Technological Determinism: It has been greatly criticized because it places
more faith in technology than mankind, especially after the usage of atomic
bombs and the Nazi experimentation on prisoners in World War II.

Social Constructionism: It completely ignores the overwhelming role that

technology plays in modern society. Besides, it ignores those social groups who
are not relevant, while designing a technological product, but will still be affected
by it.
e.


Technological Determinism Vs. Social Constructionism: A Face-
off

In a comparison between technological determinism vs. social constructionism, the main difference
lies in whether society plays a primary or secondary role in its own progress. Techspirited compares
the two in more detail.

Akshay Chavan


 Last Updated: Feb 10, 2018

Did You Know?

Karl Marx, the founder of Communism, is said to have been a supporter of technological determinism.

One thing which is common from the time of human existence on Earth to the modern age is man's
love for technology. The earliest tools made by our ancestors were fashioned from wood, bones, and
stone. Tools from the later period were made from bronze. Finally, the discovery of iron meant that
man could make better and stronger implements. The tools made in each stage were more
sophisticated than the previous ones.

Based on the use of these materials, archaeologists have divided the prehistoric period into the
Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages respectively. But did the development of better tools cause the progress
of mankind? Or, did human progress bring about such technological advancement? This question
sums up the dilemma between the theories of technological determinism and social constructionism,
the differences between which are explained in the sections that follow.

Definition
Technological Determinism: It is an ideology that considers technology as being the primary reason
for the growth and progress of a society.

Social Constructionism: It believes that technology develops as a result of social, cultural, or

economic factors, rather than being the reason for social growth. It is the exact opposite of
technological determinism.

Human Control
Technological Determinism: Being a type of determinism, it believes that the growth of our
civilization is beyond human control, which has attracted significant criticism.

Social Constructionism: This philosophy believes that humans can play a main role to actively shape
their history, culture, and politics.

Autonomy of Technology
Technological Determinism: The development of technology is regarded as an autonomous process
that occurs independently of society, because of scientific and rational factors.

Social Constructionism: Technology does not develop autonomously, but is a result of discussions
between influential social groups, who reach a compromise between their varying opinions to
produce the final product or design.

Effects of Technology


 Technological Determinism: It believes that technology has a predictable impact on society, its
characteristics determine its final impact, and it is unbiased and nonpolitical in nature.

Social Constructionism: It believes that technological impacts cannot be predicted, but depend on
how technology is utilized. The opinions of social groups determine its final impact, and technology is
routinely used for political and economic benefits.

Criticism
Technological Determinism: It has been greatly criticized because it places more faith in technology
than mankind, especially after the usage of atomic bombs and the Nazi experimentation on prisoners
in World War II.

Social Constructionism: It completely ignores the overwhelming role that technology plays in modern
society. Besides, it ignores those social groups who are not relevant, while designing a technological
product, but will still be affected by it.

Examples
Technological Determinism

► An example of technological determinism would be how the invention of the stirrup (foot-support
for horse-riders) brought about the development of feudal societies (military rule by nobles) in
history. Before its invention, riders weren't able to use swords or spears on horseback, as they risked
losing balance. However, the invention of the stirrup at the turn of the 8th century AD enabled
armored knights to fight on horseback, and ensured the development of cavalry. Ancient feudal
societies were guarded by such well-armed knights.

► Some historians believe that the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus at the turn of
the 15th century was largely due to advances in shipbuilding technology preceding this period.

► The invention of the automobile brought about the development of suburban US. The first models
were restricted to the wealthy and researchers, without affecting the general public. However, after
they became more common, the government had to step in, lay and widen roads, and make licensing
laws, which had a permanent effect on the society and landscape.
gadgets you love.


Technological Determinism Vs. Social Constructionism: A Face-
off

In a comparison between technological determinism vs. social constructionism, the main difference
lies in whether society plays a primary or secondary role in its own progress. Techspirited compares
the two in more detail.

Akshay Chavan


 Last Updated: Feb 10, 2018

Did You Know?

Karl Marx, the founder of Communism, is said to have been a supporter of technological determinism.

One thing which is common from the time of human existence on Earth to the modern age is man's
love for technology. The earliest tools made by our ancestors were fashioned from wood, bones, and
stone. Tools from the later period were made from bronze. Finally, the discovery of iron meant that
man could make better and stronger implements. The tools made in each stage were more
sophisticated than the previous ones.

Based on the use of these materials, archaeologists have divided the prehistoric period into the
Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages respectively. But did the development of better tools cause the progress
of mankind? Or, did human progress bring about such technological advancement? This question
sums up the dilemma between the theories of technological determinism and social constructionism,
the differences between which are explained in the sections that follow.

Definition
Technological Determinism: It is an ideology that considers technology as being the primary reason
for the growth and progress of a society.

Social Constructionism: It believes that technology develops as a result of social, cultural, or

economic factors, rather than being the reason for social growth. It is the exact opposite of
technological determinism.

Human Control
Technological Determinism: Being a type of determinism, it believes that the growth of our
civilization is beyond human control, which has attracted significant criticism.

Social Constructionism: This philosophy believes that humans can play a main role to actively shape
their history, culture, and politics.

Autonomy of Technology
Technological Determinism: The development of technology is regarded as an autonomous process
that occurs independently of society, because of scientific and rational factors.

Social Constructionism: Technology does not develop autonomously, but is a result of discussions
between influential social groups, who reach a compromise between their varying opinions to
produce the final product or design.

Effects of Technology


Technological Determinism: It believes that technology has a predictable impact on society, its
characteristics determine its final impact, and it is unbiased and nonpolitical in nature.

Social Constructionism: It believes that technological impacts cannot be predicted, but depend on
how technology is utilized. The opinions of social groups determine its final impact, and technology is
routinely used for political and economic benefits.

Criticism
Technological Determinism: It has been greatly criticized because it places more faith in technology
than mankind, especially after the usage of atomic bombs and the Nazi experimentation on prisoners
in World War II.

Social Constructionism: It completely ignores the overwhelming role that technology plays in modern
society. Besides, it ignores those social groups who are not relevant, while designing a technological
product, but will still be affected by it.

Examples
Technological Determinism

► An example of technological determinism would be how the invention of the stirrup (foot-support
for horse-riders) brought about the development of feudal societies (military rule by nobles) in
history. Before its invention, riders weren't able to use swords or spears on horseback, as they risked
losing balance. However, the invention of the stirrup at the turn of the 8th century AD enabled
armored knights to fight on horseback, and ensured the development of cavalry. Ancient feudal
societies were guarded by such well-armed knights.

► Some historians believe that the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus at the turn of
the 15th century was largely due to advances in shipbuilding technology preceding this period.

► The invention of the automobile brought about the development of suburban US. The first models
were restricted to the wealthy and researchers, without affecting the general public. However, after
they became more common, the government had to step in, lay and widen roads, and make licensing
laws, which had a permanent effect on the society and landscape.

Social Constructionism

► An example of social constructionism would be the use of the Internet in recent history. From
being restricted to military purposes, it was later adapted by software programmers. Today, it is used
for many more purposes, like personal chatting, by governments to monitor their citizens,
corporations for advertising their services to customers, and even for unethical purposes like hacking
of bank accounts. This proves that the use of technology varies with need.

► While the manufacture of the male contraceptive pill has been possible for science since a long


 time, its production and use is rare, because of contraceptive usage and responsibility being
restricted to women by social norms.

► The 1980s saw a tussle between the Betamax and VHS formats of video recording, known as the
'Videotape Format War'. Technically, the former was superior, and was expected to capture the
market. However, the VHS format would eventually become more popular, because certain social and
economic factors, such as better advertising, played their role.

To conclude, technological determinism believes that society is shaped by technology, while social
constructionism says that it is society itself which shapes technology. However, both theories indicate
extreme ends of the spectrum, and are one-sided by themselves. In recent times, sociologists have
moved towards a combination of technological determinism and social constructionism, where
societies play their role in shaping technology, but the importance of technology in bringing about
social change is also considered.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Social vs. Technological Determinism

It's no secret that our society, world, country, individual communities, and day-to-day
interactions have all been transformed (not using that word lightly) by the introduction and influx
of new media technologies. To be clear, when I say "new media technologies," I mean
anything and everything related to the internet and the derivatives of such. This includes the
internet itself, the personal computer, smartphones, and social media (facebook, twitter,
blogging, etc.). New media technologies have only been around for a few decades (since the
1980's) yet have expanded and been adopted by society at an incredibly rapid rate. Without
delving too deep into this rich history of the internet, I would instead like to explore two important
stances that theorists take on modern new media technologies: theTechnological Determinist
Theory and the Social Determinist Theory.

First, let's explore the stance of technological determinism:

 "The medium is the message. ...It is the medium that shapes and controls the scale and
form of human association and action." Marshall McLuhan's famous phrase that sparked a
discussion and debate over the effects of new media technologies.
 States that technology is the driving force behind the change and development of our
society, culture and social construction of reality.
o the machine has the power


McLuhan's stance is really a good summation of the theory behind technological determinism.
He makes analogies from history that show we are simply following a social trend with
technology. For instance, he speaks about the lightbulb and states that doctors can perform
open heart surgery because of the light it produces or it can prolong a baseball game through
the dark hours of the night. These examples are the content of the lightbulb, according to
McLuhan (Understanding Media, 24). Would these examples be possible without the lightbulb?
If you want to get technical, yes, of course they would be, but it wouldn't be with the same ease
and convenience as it is with the new technology of the lightbulb. However, according to
McLuhan, the lightbulb will (and has) shape(ed) our society and transformed the way we do
things and is the content itself.

And here's the stance of social determinism:

 idea that social interactions and human behavior shape human actions and the power
lies in the individual.
 the person has power over the machine
 we are the hands that control the computer and we are the intelligence behind the
creation of machine.
 the human race is given more credit and autonomy
What I find to be most baffling in the debate over technological vs social determinism is this
lacking of the acknowledging who created the technology or the machine. These are all man-
made, human constructs that we choose to use, choose to not use, and choose how to use.
Perhaps, yes, in today's age it would be difficult to "choose" not to use a computer or pay for the
an internet subscription. However, what we do with it, I strongly believe, is birthed from our own
inhibition and our prerogative. Why give so much credit to the machine? We are not slaves to
the machine nor are we creating machines with that goal in mind. While there are GUI
(Graphical User Interface) for most machines (computers, phones, and other electronic
devices), which may inhibit the full potential of that device and lead us through the functionality
by way of a map, we are still given options. If you're a writer, you can write a romance or a
thriller in Word, if you're a web designer you can design a website for an Adult film production
company or a GreenPeace organization -- there is no limit to what you can do with a computer
or internet connection and to argue that the fashion that we do it in (sitting down at a computer
and being connected to the internet) somehow makes us determinant on technology is
hypocritical and outrageous.

To play devil's advocate, what should we do then, to alleviate this so-called technological
determinism? Should we eradicate all of new media, text messages, the printing press, the
locomotive train, and modern language? Should we go back to the time of primal human
existence and live in simpler times when we didn't have these technological distractions? Why
are we picking on the success, developments, and ingenuity of man and woman? Why are we
obsessing over the negative things that people do with technology and criticizing the good by
saying we are too technologically determinant. Though I am a liberal and a self-proclaimed new
media "enthusiast," I don't see a problem with adapting to our modern times that are spewing
out new media innovations.


In a recent study, out of the list of the top 10 highest paying jobs, 4 of the 10 were explicitly
related to internet and new media technologies (#6 being Internet Marketing). This is indicative
of the reality of our times and to ignore that or try and argue that this is somehow bad is ignorant
and will leave you left behind and self-censored. While this reality is not the case for some
developing countries around the world, it is for majority of modern nations and what we are
accomplishing with these technologies is fascinating and unparalleled with anything we have
ever seen in history.

Going back to McLuhan's example, the lightbulb only knows one job, to provide light. Yet
according to McLuhan and the technological determinist theory, the lightbulb is not given the
credit it deserves. Yes, the lightbulb has changed the way we do things and also the way we
think, but is the lightbulb itself one to take on that blame or credit? Does the lightbulb really have
the power over human intuition and intelligence to change us? Or does it only know "on" or
"off?" The lightbulb is a catalyst for human innovation and success. The lightbulb, like the
printing press, the personal computer, the cell-phone and the tablet computer, enable us to be
more worldly, mobile, and aware. We can use these technologies however we want, for
whatever we want (if at all), because we are the creators, the exhibitors, and ultimately the ones
to then criticize and question our uses -- and that's how it should be. There is no winner or
looser in this debate because it is not a debate. We are an ever-advancing world with an
evolving technological intelligence and things are not going to get less advanced nor will they
take a step back. And why should they?

We are dependent on technology because technology makes us greater and provides us with
countless opportunity. Just as were dependent on transportation, just as we were dependent on
fire, and for that case, just as we are dependent on oxygen to breathe. We can depend on
modern technologies, because they make our lives easier, and still lead an autonomous, self-
fulfilling life.

Just for fun:

Take a look at this visualization of what the internet looks like (connected IP [Internet Protocol]
addresses) -- it truly gives you an idea of the complexity and vast nature of this supreme
intelligence.


Ben Lebowitz at 7:17 PM
Share

5 comments:

1.
Gwenyth JackawayJanuary 24, 2011 at 7:58 PM

A nice introduction to some elements of this complex set of issues. I agree that it
makes no sense to see the technology as having its 'own agenda'. I believe it is far
more useful to see communication technologies as tools. Tools, of course, can be
used to build, to remodel, to dismantle and even to destroy.

After years of pondering the 'debate' between these two positions, I've come to
recognize that each 'side' has merits. It's true that the printing press made possible
certain kinds of changes that scribal culture could not achieve. That doesn't mean
that those changes were MANDATED by the technology of print... but rather they
were MADE POSSIBLE. Other conditions (religious, political, educational) were
also necessary. Not all cultures that adopted the printing press -- or the television -
- or the internet for that matter, undergo the same kinds of changes.

There are strong parallels here to the "Nature/Nurture" debate. Are we shaped by
nature (biology) or culture? Well, obviously it's both. And it's likely the same with
the technological/social determinism question. Of course the technology makes a
difference. Each technology offers a range of uses. Those technologies are
developed by, and put to use WITHIN a culture -- which already has a set of values,


 principles, priorities. I like to think of it as adding new props into an on-going
theatrical production. If "all the world's a stage', and society is a never ending 'play',
then we can think of new technologies as new 'props' that get added into the story.
Societies are engaged in an on-going narrative about many basic things: love,
family, sexuality, power, money, war, peace, etc. These are age-old concerns. But
they play out differently in a world with television than they did in a world with
only print. And social life is still concerned with the same basic issues -- who do
we love, who is part of our group, who is 'in', who is out', etc. These were issues in
the days before telephone, and they are issues now in the days of facebook and
texting. Human nature changes much more slowly than technology. And there is a
constant interplay between human beings and the tools we create. Perhaps it's a
feedback loop: We make the media and the media make us.

Another issue to ponder is fear of change, and what we lose when we adopt new
ways of interacting. As someone who has passionately embraced social media, you
are, of course, prone to technophilia. And there are many arguments in favor of this
position -- not the least of which is just good sense -- it's sort of like technological
Darwinism. We must adapt with the ongoing pace of change, or we will, indeed,
get left behind.

But of course when we abandon one style of interaction for another, something is
always lost in the trade off. So, it's important to listen to the voices of the
technophobes. The 'luddites' may seem to be just grumpy folks stuck in the past...
but their concerns also have things to teach us about what we are giving up as we
move on.

Finally, I'm intrigued by your use of the term 'supreme intelligence' to describe the
visualization of the internet... and would love to hear more about that.

GJ
Reply

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