Mesthene, Emmanuel G. (1969). The Role of Technology in Society. [Teich 10th, ch. 10, pp. 93-102]

1. Teich notes that Mesthene's primary theme seems to that "technology appears to induce social change in two ways: by creating new opportunities and by generating new problems for individuals and for societies." Here's one quote from Mesthene that bears some relation to Teich's claim:

   The close relationship between technological and social change itself helps to explain why any given technological development is likely to have both positive and negative effects. The usual sequence is that (1) technological advance createsa new opportunity to achieve some desired goal; (2) this requires (except in trivial cases) alterations in social organization if advantage is to be taken of the new opportnity; (3) which means that the functions of existing social structures will be interfered with; (4) with the result that other goals, which were served by the older structures, are now only adequately achieved."

   What are ways in which Teich's summary is appropriate for this paragraph?

   What are ways in which Teich's summary is appropriate for the whole section, if not necessarily for the paragraph?

   In what ways is Teich's summary incomplete?

2. Mesthene's article is broken up into individual sections and subsections.
   What is the main point of each of those sections or subsections?

3. In paragraph 2 of "How Society Reacts to Technological Change", Mesthene claims that "Failure of society to respond to the opportunities created by new technology means that much actual or potential technology lies fallow, that is, is not used at all or not used to its full potential." Can you think of examples in which we see this failure? Why does society fail to respond?

4. While Mesthene talks about the new opportunities and new problems a new technology creates for society, he seems to be assuming that technologies are successful. What might he say about the possible effects of a failed technology on society?

5. In the third paragraph of "Containing the Negative Effects of Technology", Mesthene notes that "Most of the consequences of technology that are causing concern at the present time - pollution of the environment, potential damage to the ecology of the planet, occupational and social dislocations, threats to the privacy and political significance of the individual, social and political malaise - are negative externalities of this kind." He also writes about questions of relying too much on computer data, about technology and war, and about the contrast between societal needs and the freedom of the individual that "our traditions still take for granted as inalienable rights".

   It seems like these sections could have been written today (other than the difference in the war). But Mesthene's article was written more than 45 years ago. What, if anything has changed in that time related to thse issues?

6. What themes does Mesthene raise that are similar to those from other authors we have read?

7. What new themes does Mesthene raise?

8. It is clear that large sections of Mesthene's article have been elided. What are the implications of using an incomplete article?