Question

2. Provide one example of technological determinism from units 2, 3 or 4. Describe two reasons why your chosen example highlights the problems associated with technological determinism.

Answer 1

Technological determinism is related to the close association between technology and society. Technology abruptly changes the entire outlook of society brings a massive impact on society. Determinism is a philosophical term that the choices and the changes people make based on the environment. Technological determinism is the idea of structural changes by adopting new technologies by society. For example, the internet brought massive social and economic changes. The changes commence with feudalism to capitalism and finally reach the society of information. Technological determinism determines contemporary society. There are shortfalls when adopting new technologies that the skill set and requirements will vary, and few sections get marginalized. When industrialization occurred, the demand was for engineering skills; the farmers and artisans left behind, the same way when information technology has emerged; the digital divide was the by-product and a section of the population still isolated. It brings sudden changes; Arab spring overthrew the twenty-five years-long regime within months. The significant disadvantages of technological determinism are exclusion and unpredictability.

E.g., Internet

• A large portion of humanity excludes from the internet and allied services.
• The future of the internet is unpredictable; the chance of digital dictatorship is a possible threat.