Plan for the Day
- David Noble’s The Religion of Technology (pp. 88-171)
- Technology and Yourself Essays
David Noble’s The Religion of Technology (pp. 88-171)
I guess we should finish up on Part 1 and then move on to Part 2. After our Marxism discussion and your reflection on what drives our fascination with technology, it’s probably best to hear how you’re engaging with the material.
Just as we started last class, I’ve got to ask again: How are we “actively involved in the daily creation and recreation, production and reproduction of the world in which they live” (Winner, p. 15).
Let’s go to a webpage devoted to Noble’s book.
Online Presence
I think we’re going to make this a series of reflections on Canvas. I will provide specific prompts, but the overall goal is to reflect (as you’ve been doing during the reading and in class) on stories, narratives, assumptions, and conventional wisdom you have about technology.
According to your personal philosophy about technology, what seems to guide technological fascination? You can’t just say efficiency or functionality. This semester, we’ll talk plenty about how technologies come to be through a variety of developmental paths, and just being the “best” isn’t enough. Of course, don’t just assert a belief; defend it through sound reasoning, or explain how you came to believe what you believe. After all, most (if not all) of us assume technology will continue to advance and get “better.” Why do we think that? What motivates technological advancement?
Of course, you can still have that online presence via social media, I just need to see your posts. You can make screen captures and paste them into the Canvas window. Just show me you’re thinking about technology broadly.
Next Class
Keep up with your reading and have Noble’s book finished by Tuesday (2/11).