Technological Determinism

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews James Carey, Thomas Hughes and Brian Winston present respective articles. It explores their distinct approaches to the issue of technological determinism. It explains that while Carey emphasizes technological determinism, Hughes balances internalist and contextualist approaches and Winston argues for the most complex model of the three which emphasizes the critical role of cultural factors upon technological development. The paper argues, in comparing and contrasting the three approaches, that Winston's argument best explains anomalous examples in the history of technology that the other approaches could not easily explain.

From the Paper:

"James Carey, Thomas Hughes and Brian Winston present - in their respective articles - distinct approaches to the issue of technological determinism. In general, while Carey emphasizes technological determinism, Hughes balances internalist and contextualist approaches, and Winston argues for the most complex model of the three which emphasizes the critical role of cultural factors upon technological development. This essay will argue, in comparing and contrasting the three approaches, that Winston's argument best explains anomalous examples in the history of technology that the other approaches could not easily explain. James Carey, in "Time, Space and the Telegraph," examines the social impact of telegraph technology upon the economic and social structure of 19th century America. While Carey does not address the issue of ..."

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