Feenbergs Beliefs Of Technology :: essays research papers

Feenberg sees his Critical Theory of Technology to be the most useful and accurate of his three theories on technology. His critical theory of technology is give tongue to to be a combination of the better points of both the square and instrumental theories of technology while simultaneously allowing for technological turn up. For the purpose of this paper, I allow go into depth on Feenbergs critical theory of technology however, in order to understand this theory, we must briefly examine his devil other theories of technology, which are the substantive, and the instrumental theories of technology.Feenberg has three views of technology. They are the instrumental theory, the substantive theory, and the critical theories of technology. The instrumental theory is "the dominant view of modern governments and the form _or_ system of government sciences on which they rely." (Feenberg P. 5) It views technology as inferior to certain values in other societies. The substan tive theory "argues that technology constitutes a new instance of cultural system that restructures the entire social world as an end of control." (Feenberg p. 7) This substantive theory forces technology on societies typical customs and ideas. The bingle-third view on technology is what Feenberg believes to be the most useful and accurate. This would be his critical theory of technology, which is said to be a combination of the best points of both the substantive and instrumental theories of technology while allowing for technological progress as well.The substantive theory of technology argues that the effect technology has on society is more damaging then the visible effects of the technologies themselves. Jacques Ellul and Martin Heidegger believe that technology establishes a new way of living that rebuilds society as something that they cannot control themselves.An example would be to compare fast nourishment to a home cooked meal. Though some argue that fast food is an nasty technology in itself by allowing one to stupefy hot food in a few minutes notice, others will argue differently. slightly see it as a replacement of the home cooked meal that brings families unitedly every evening for dinner. This is the time for families to share and communicate their thoughts, feelings and ideas with one another. Everyone is open to catch up with each other despite the craziness in ones own life. The convenience and technology of fast food takes something away from families and the one chance a day that they might not otherwise receive to talk to one another.