Re: Tech & Values

Reinaldo Vicini (mailto:interext@ANDITEL.ANDINET.LAT.NET)
Mon, 7 Oct 1996 13:54:48 -0500 

Message-ID:  <199610071917.OAA31515@anditel.andinet.lat.net>
Date:         Mon, 7 Oct 1996 13:54:48 -0500
From: Reinaldo Vicini <mailto:interext@ANDITEL.ANDINET.LAT.NET>
Subject:      Re: Tech & Values
To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>


Dear friends


It seems like we are bound to get caught on fire again.


Technology creates and destroys values. I do think somehow is correct. Take
for instance, again this Internet, for isolated societies, the Internet can
be a radical change from how that particular society works. The car, and
the plane, where long isolated communities are now mixed by external
infludences.


I do not know if any of you have read the "Tao Te King". Some its messages
tell us that most things can't be stopped. They just flow. Well, perhaps
the first question that comes to my mind is: Why don't those values prevail
over the new ones? Why some prevail and some extinguish? Help please






Reinaldo Vicini
mailto:interext@anditel.andinet.lat.net
http://www.colomsat.net.co/rotarios.bogota




"Los espejos y la copula son abominables
porque multiplican el numero de hombres"
______________________________________


Jorge Luis Borges


----------
From: Gary Garriott <mailto:garyg@VITA.ORG>
To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Subject: Tech & Values
Date: Lunes 7 de Octubre de 1996 11:15 AM


Further to the "goodness," "badness" or "neutrality" of
technology, reference is made to the 1970's era book: "the
Politics of Alternative Technology (NY:Universe Books, 1975)
which makes a strong case that values of the creators are
imbedded/inherent in any technology, specifically (pp. 37-38)
"alternative technology is now attracting a growing number of
advocates (who believe that)....The roots of alternative
technology are to be found equally in the social and political
critiques of....the anti-human and alienating aspects of
contemporary technology..."


Dealing with the "two-edged sword" aspect of all technology (it
both creates and destroy values), Denis Goulet in a thoughtful
book from the same era: "The Uncertain Promise - Value Conflicts
in Technology Transfer" (NY:IDOC/North America, 1977) makes
essentially the same point in that the problem "is not technology
itself but the successful management of it, which requires wisdom
and clarity as to the kind of society desired and the ways in
which technology can help construct it."


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