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Critique of pure technology

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)peer-review

Abstract

Every new technology fundamentally changes social and organizational structures. The danger is that technology, when applied with little thought, will dictate the changes and we may not like the results. This paper draws parallels between our critique of the dangers inherent in pure technology ('pure' in the sense of being free from all associations) and Kantian critique of pure reason. Two fundamental questions are posed: What are the limits of technological solutions to human related problems? (analogous to the question 'What are the limits of human thought and reason?') What are the preconditions under which people can make sense of the technological world? (analogous to the question 'What are the preconditions in which people can make sense of experience?'). We explore a phenomenon of unthinking application of pure technology with reference to (1) human inability to perceive the thresholds beyond which technological solutions no longer apply to the human related problems they were originally intended to solve and (2) human tendency for a decontex-tualized understanding of the technologies involved. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2001
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCognitive Technology: Instruments of Mind
Subtitle of host publication4th International Conference, CT 2001 Coventry, UK, August 6-9, 2001 Proceedings
EditorsMeurig Beynon, Chrystopher L. Nehaniv, Kerstin Dautenhahn
Place of PublicationBerlin, Heidelberg
PublisherSpringer 
Pages463-475
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-540-44617-0
ISBN (Print)9783540424062
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2001
Event4th International Conference on Cognitive Technology (CT 2001) - Coventry, United Kingdom
Duration: 6 Aug 20019 Aug 2001

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume2117
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference4th International Conference on Cognitive Technology (CT 2001)
PlaceUnited Kingdom
CityCoventry
Period6/08/019/08/01

Bibliographical note

Full text of this publication does not contain sufficient affiliation information. The Research Unit(s) information for this record is based on the then academic department affiliation of the author(s).

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