202107301353 - Technological Determinism vs. Instrumentalists
Tags: #term #research
Author: & Nicholas Carr
Reference: { The Shallows - What the Internet is doing to our brains
page: 46
Determinism
- Technological progress, which is seen as an autonomous force outside man's control, has been the primary factor influencing the course of human history
Instrumentalism
- Downplay the power of technology, believing tools to be neutral artifacts, entirely subservient to the conscious wishes of their users
- Our instruments are the means we use to achieve our ends; they have no ends of their own
Progress has its own logic, which is not always consistent with the intentions or wishes of the toolmakers and tool users.
- Sometimes our tools do what we tell them to do. Other times, we adapt ourselves to our tools' requirements