- Paperback: 410 pages
- Publisher: University of Chicago Press (1 Aug 1994)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0226531988
- ISBN-13: 978-0226531984
- Product Dimensions: 2.3 x 1.5 x 0.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 856,210 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
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 the modern day, 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.
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First Sentence
What may be called engineering philosophy of technology has the distinction of being the firstborn of the philosophy of technology twins. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
What may be called engineering philosophy of technology has the distinction of being the firstborn of the philosophy of technology twins. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I found this book to be an excellant survey of the history and philosophy of technology. It replaces a multitude of other texts.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Carl Mitcham provides a provocative description and explanation of the various views of the philosophy of technology. Although I have not read many books like this one, and had to read it with a dictionary in the other hand, I could not put this book down.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Unifies the history and philosophy of technology
24 Aug 1998
Format:Paperback
I found this book to be an excellant survey of the history and philosophy of technology. It replaces a multitude of other texts.
Spanning the Two Cultures
12 May 2007
Format:Paperback
A brilliant, well-researched, and highly readable treatment of the meaning of "technology," a topic of considerable practical importance and debate.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Well done
4 Sep 2000
Format:Paperback
A good introduction to some issues in the philosophy of technology; however it is more of a heavily annotated bibliography on the subject. One can use it well as a "jumping off point" to learn about in outline the views of many others, which are amply referenced and documented. A warning: his characterizations of Mario Bunge's philosophy of technology - "technology as applied science" is incorrect. (See Bunge's _Treatise on Basic Philosophy_, volume 7.)
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