Actants and enframing: Heidegger and Latour on technology

@article{citeulike:374403, abstract = {A central issue in the philosophy of technology concerns the relationship between technology and the conditions under which technology develops. Traditionally, two main accounts are given of this relationship. The social constructivist approach considers technology to be largely determined by "social" factors (e.g. military interests, economic policy). By contrast, technological determinism describes technology as self-determinative, and as following its own independent aim of greater efficiency. This paper discusses two alternatives to these conceptions of technology, namely, the accounts offered by Bruno Latour and Martin Heidegger. It examines their common theses that our present misunderstanding of technology is due to a continued commitment to the subject-object distinction. The paper further compares their accounts, which attempt to overcome this distinction, and argues that ultimately both authors fail to find a role for human beings that is consistent with their contention that we need to develop a less anthropocentric understanding of the world.}, author = {Khong, Lynnette }, citeulike-article-id = {374403}, doi = {10.1016/j.shpsa.2003.09.003}, journal = {Studies In History and Philosophy of Science Part A}, keywords = {ant, heidegger, objectivism, technology}, month = {December}, number = {4}, pages = {693--704}, posted-at = {2008-04-27 19:39:15}, priority = {4}, title = {Actants and enframing: Heidegger and Latour on technology}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2003.09.003}, volume = {34}, year = {2003} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:374403 L3 - citeulike-article-id:374403 TI - Actants and enframing: Heidegger and Latour on technology JF - Studies In History and Philosophy of Science Part A VL - 34 IS - 4 SP - 693 EP - 704 N2 - A central issue in the philosophy of technology concerns the relationship between technology and the conditions under which technology develops. Traditionally, two main accounts are given of this relationship. The social constructivist approach considers technology to be largely determined by "social" factors (e.g. military interests, economic policy). By contrast, technological determinism describes technology as self-determinative, and as following its own independent aim of greater efficiency. This paper discusses two alternatives to these conceptions of technology, namely, the accounts offered by Bruno Latour and Martin Heidegger. It examines their common theses that our present misunderstanding of technology is due to a continued commitment to the subject-object distinction. The paper further compares their accounts, which attempt to overcome this distinction, and argues that ultimately both authors fail to find a role for human beings that is consistent with their contention that we need to develop a less anthropocentric understanding of the world. KW - ant KW - heidegger KW - objectivism KW - technology AU - Khong, Lynnette PY - 2003/12// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2003.09.003 ER -