What is technology?

This talk is based on writing and thinking from Marc de Vries, Assistant Professor of

Philosophy at Delft, University of Technology.The primary source is:

Teaching about Technology (2005).

Ideas about how to value technology

As artefacts As knowledge As processes As volition

Technology as artefacts

As artefacts:

Technology as knowledge

As knowledge

• What is knowledge?• ‘… a person knows that p when:

• The person believes that p;• The person has found justification for p;• P is true. ‘

(de Vries 2005, p.30)[P stands for proposition]

What is technology knowledge?

Taxonomy of technology knowledge

1. Knowledge of the physical nature of the artefact2. Knowledge of its functional properties3. Knowledge of the relationship between the functional nature and

the physical nature4. Knowledge of the processes that are involved in the functioning or

in the making of the artefact(de Vries 2005, p.36)

Technology as process

As processes

Three aspects:1. Design2. Making3. Using and assessing processes

As design process (1)

• Flow chart• One process?• Undetermined problems:

‘wicked’ problems• Observation• Reflection• Not static but dynamic

As design process (2)

Experience based

technologies

Micro-technologies

Macro based technologies

As making process

Using & assessing processes

beliefs reasoning

Possible worldsmemory

Counter-factuals modelling

intentionsgoals

predicting

What if…?

Technology as volition

As volition

Extension of us or an intermediary?

Solution?

Solution?

Controlling technology or being controlled by technology?• Bioengineering• Ambient technology• Nanotechnologies

Consequences for D&T?