Readings in the Philosophy of Technology

by David M. Kaplan (Editor)

Overview

Ideal for professors who want to provide a comprehensive set of the most important readings in the philosophy of technology, from foundational to the cutting edge, this book introduces students to the various ways in which societies, technologies, and environments shape one another. The readings examine the nature of technology as well as the effects of technologies upon human knowledge, activities, societies, and environments. Students will learn to appreciate the ways that philosophy informs our understanding of technology, and to see how technology relates to ethics, politics, nature, human nature, computers, science, food, and animals.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742564015
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/16/2009
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	602
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

David M. Kaplan is assistant professor of philosophy at the University of North Texas.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Philosophical Perspectives
Chapter 2 The Question Concerning Technology
Chapter 3 Heidegger on Gaining a Free Relation to Technology
Chapter 4 *One-Dimensional Man
Chapter 5 *John Dewey's Philosophy of Technology
Chapter 6 Focal Things and Practices
Chapter 7 A Phenomenology of Technics
Chapter 8 *Philosophy of Technology Meets Social Constructivism
Chapter 9 *Women and the Assessment of Technology
Chapter 10 *Design Methodology and the Nature of Technical Artefacts
Chapter 11 Democratic Rationalization
Chapter 12 A Collective of Humans and Nonhumans
Part 13 Technology and Ethics
Chapter 14 Technology and Responsibility
Chapter 15 *Technology and the Anachronism of Traditional Rights
Chapter 16 Technological Ethics in a Different Voice
Chapter 17 *NEST-ethics: Patterns of Moral Argumentation about New and Emerging Science and Technology
Chapter 18 *Moralizing Technology
Part 19 Technology and Politics
Chapter 20 Do Artifacts Have Politics?
Chapter 21 *The Panopticon
Chapter 22 Strong Democracy and Technology
Chapter 23 *Bigger Monster: Weaker Chains
Chapter 24 *The Constitution in Cyberspace
Chapter 25 *Technology Transfer and Globalization
Part 26 Technology and Human Nature
Chapter 27 *Transhumanist FAQ
Chapter 28 Twenty-First Century Bodies
Chapter 29 Why Computers May Never Think Like People
Chapter 30 *Interactional Expertise and Embodiment
Chapter 31 *Genetic Interventions and the Ethics of Human Enhancement
Chapter 32 *What's Wrong with Enhancement Technology
Part 33 *Technology and Nature
Chapter 34 *The Big Lie: Human Restoration of Nature
Chapter 35 *Ecological Restoration and the Culture of Nature
Chapter 36 *The Brave New World of Animal Biotechnology
Chapter 37 *Ethics and Genetically Modified Food
Chapter 38 *What's Wrong with Functional Foods?
Part 39 Technology and Science
Chapter 40 *When Is an Image Not an Image?
Chapter 41 Scientific Visualism
Chapter 42 *Laboratories
Chapter 43 *Scientific Policy and Moral Purity
Chapter 44 *Technologies of Humility

Editorial Reviews

David Kaplan has collected the most important readings in the philosophy of technology from the foundational to the cutting edge, making this new edition essential to anyone interested in the impact technology has on humanity. This book will provide a cornerstone for any course on the philosophical or social impacts of technology. The wealth of readings cover a wide variety of topics, which will allow for many different course designs to flow from this one book. Kaplan also provides lucid and entertaining introductions to each topic that will help situate the readings in their place within the continuing conversation of the proper place technology has in our lives.

John P. Sullins

This book is an excellent introduction to 20th and 21st century philosophy of technology. Prof. David Kaplan has collected a variety of classic and contemporary texts defining this fast-growing branch of philosophy and ordered them systematically. What makes this book truly remarkable is that is also offers comprehensive insight into the philosophical work with technology taking place at the moment. This is manifest in text of thinkers such as Sheila Jasanoff, Bruno Latour, Peter-Paul Verbeek and Evan Selinger.

Søren Riis

This book is an excellent introduction to 20th and 21st century philosophy of technology. Prof. David Kaplan has collected a variety of classic and contemporary texts defining this fast-growing branch of philosophy and ordered them systematically. What makes this book truly remarkable is that is also offers comprehensive insight into the philosophical work with technology taking place at the moment. This is manifest in text of thinkers such as Sheila Jasanoff, Bruno Latour, Peter-Paul Verbeek and Evan Selinger.

Søren Riis

This book makes it thrilling to teach the philosophy of technology. Its guiding issue is not whether but how technology affects social life, and in what forms. It shows that few of today's pressing social issues, from educational policy to genetically modified foods, can be meaningfully addressed without understanding the philosophy of technology.

Robert P. Crease

Kaplan's superb book is divided into six parts containing 31 readings, most newly published, by some of the leading philosophers in the area of technology...[It] provides a more comprehensive range of philosophical inquiries related to technology than previous books...in a way that stimulates and deepens the reader's understanding of technological development.

The American Journal Of Bioethics

David Kaplan has collected the most important readings in the philosophy of technology from the foundational to the cutting edge, making this new edition essential to anyone interested in the impact technology has on humanity. This book will provide a cornerstone for any course on the philosophical or social impacts of technology. The wealth of readings cover a wide variety of topics, which will allow for many different course designs to flow from this one book. Kaplan also provides lucid and entertaining introductions to each topic that will help situate the readings in their place within the continuing conversation of the proper place technology has in our lives.--John P. Sullins, Sonoma State University

This book makes it thrilling to teach the philosophy of technology. Its guiding issue is not whether but how technology affects social life, and in what forms. It shows that few of today's pressing social issues, from educational policy to genetically modified foods, can be meaningfully addressed without understanding the philosophy of technology.--Robert P. Crease, Chairman of the department of philosophy, Stony Brook University

This book is an excellent introduction to 20th and 21st century philosophy of technology. Prof. David Kaplan has collected a variety of classic and contemporary texts defining this fast-growing branch of philosophy and ordered them systematically. What makes this book truly remarkable is that is also offers comprehensive insight into the philosophical work with technology taking place at the moment. This is manifest in text of thinkers such as Sheila Jasanoff, Bruno Latour, Peter-Paul Verbeek and Evan Selinger.--Søren Riis, Roskilde University

From the Publisher