Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.93.961007205723.10232C-100000@purple.tmn.com> Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 21:10:15 -0400 From: Tom Abeles <mailto:tabeles@TMN.COM> Subject: Re: Tech & Values To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Gary Garriot's thoughtful posting is worthy of a re read because it is right on- but only in part. I would commend Everett Roger's fourth edition entitled The diffusion of innovation, free press 1995- pb about US30.The idea that appropirate technology's results, good bad or inddiferent are in the hands of the deliverer is to totally ignore several critical issues. First is the environment into which it is introduced both the bio/physical and the socio/economic. And the second is that the potential outcomes can be predicted with any degree of certain within either the near term or the long term.
Science has failed to provide good models of perdiction outside of very tight bands within the domain of science. What we have to learn to live with is dynamic programs which can change directions in medias res ( in mid stream as it were. Funding agencies have to stop expecting that their consultants and hirelings are going to be able to achieve objectives as stated in their proposals and even accept alternatives that may be orthogonal to the original path once the project has started. And consultants are going to have to take responsibility for their prognostications, predictions and claims-
Introduction of technologies into developing countries has had, often, the goal of helping the disenfranchised. In other words a social objective. Yet we know that technology is no the appropriate vehicle for curing what are social problems even in the developed countries much less in developing countries.
we have learned much from the 70's. Remember that we see the past and the future through the eyes of the present. as we take that first step fwd both the past and the future have also changed. We can neither evoke the problems or the glories of the past to guide us to the future without having our present firmly in hand.
tom abeles mailto:tabeles@tmn.com
On Mon, 7 Oct 1996, Gary Garriott wrote:
> 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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