McDermott, John (1969). Technology: The Opiate of the Intellectuals. [Teich 10th, ch. 11, pp. 103-112]
McDermott identifies an approach to technology that he calls
laissez innover. What does he characterize as the main features
of laissez innover?
What are the differences between laissez innover and technological
determinism?
What flaws does McDermott identify in the
laissez innover approach?
What alternatives to this approach does he suggest?
In Section II, McDermott refers to a "perverse Gresham's Law of
Technology". What does he mean by this statement?
In the questions on Mesthene, a student in this class wrote
"Do you think society effectively aids technological progress?" How
might McDermott respond to that question?
Toward the end of section II (p. 103), McDermott writes ",Technology,
in its concrete, empirical meaning, refers fundamentally to systems of
rationalized control over large groups of men, events, and machines by
small groups of technically skilled men operating through organizational
hierarchy." What challenges might one raise to this description?
Which of our authors might share that description?
What themes does McDermott raise that are similar to those from other
authors we have read?
What new themes does McDermott raise?
It is clear that sections of McDermott's article have been elided.
What are the implications of using an incomplete article?
