During the Roman and Middle Ages, technological progress was impressive. But in the twentieth century, technological innovations have been criticized for causing pollution, affecting the environment, and threatening individuals and groups. However, new technologies have also improved life. They have helped reduce costs and improve efficiency in business. Technology has become increasingly important in modern society.
The use of computers, digital cameras, and other technologies has changed the way we take pictures. They have eliminated the need for film, darkrooms, and hours of tedious retouching. They have enabled people to be more productive and efficient, allowing companies to operate more effectively. In addition, technology has contributed to a variety of human welfare goals. Many technologies are used in diverse application areas, including medical, food, and industrial processes. In addition, technological advances have made it easier to monitor the health of the planet.
The process of technology discovery is different from the role of creativity in institutional reform. It is driven by human curiosity and foresight. As such, technology discoveries are driven by human interest. Although the scientific method is essential in bringing about technological innovations, technological innovation has to be purposeful. A technologist chooses the future based on an understanding of the present.
While the earliest testimony to the philosophical study of technology is from ancient Greece, the field of technology has been active for thousands of years. Early philosophers reflected on the nature of the artifact and its relationship to nature. The oldest such statement is from Heraclitus. The philosopher argued that technology could only imitate nature, and he maintained that weaving was the first form of technology.
Other early contributions to the philosophy of technology are found in Aristotle and Democritus. These two thinkers are often seen as the origins of the idea of the four causes. Aristotle wrote in Physics II.2, “The cause of technology is the imitation of nature.” He referred to the examples of the weaver and the house builder. In addition, Democritus claimed that the imitation of nature was the reason that weaving and house building were invented.
Aristotle’s doctrine of the four causes was not meant to imply that technology only imitates nature. He also believed that rhetoric is a form of technology.
The early twentieth century saw a lot of debate over foundational issues. These issues are not generally addressed by philosophers and technologists, but they illustrate the close relationship between these two groups. They were particularly lively in the late nineteenth century, when discussions of causal relationships were taking place. The emergence of the concept of technical norms drew on these ideas.
A technical norm is a statement in the form of If you want to achieve X, then do Y. These statements are a normative argument, because they prescribe a course of action. While they may be persuasive, they do not necessarily equate to a rational decision. The only logical conclusion to draw from these arguments is that technological inventions must be rationally selected and evaluated.