The Social Shaping of Technology

by Donald Angus MacKenzie (Editor), Judy Wajcman (Editor)

Technological change is often seen as something that follows its own logic - something we may welcome, or about which we may protest, but which we are unable to alter fundamentally. This reader challenges that assumption and its distinguished contributors demonstrate that technology is affected at a fundamental level by the social context in which it develops. General arguments are introduced about the relation of technology to society and different types of technology are examined: the technology of production; domestic and reproductive technology; and military technology.

Genres: Technology, Nonfiction, Sociology, Science, Philosophy

462 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Donald Angus MacKenzie FBA FRSE FAcSS (b.1950) is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

His work constitutes a crucial contribution to the field of science and technology studies. He has also developed research in the field of social studies of finance. He has undertaken widely cited work on the history of statistics, eugenics, nuclear weapons, computing and finance, among other things. Works

Reviews

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

an interesting, collection of techno-ethical essays that provide a comprehensive overview of the key social anthropological factors guiding - and arising from - technological advancements in the 70’s. It’s reads as a very interesting time capsule of emerging technological anxieties.

[EAL · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually only read the Thomas P. Hughes essay, "Edison and Electric Light," but I want to read the rest. Fascinating essay. Edison as a system builder who integrated social, cultural, technical, political, &c disciplines to bring the electric power system to the world.