Feenbergs Beliefs Of Technology :: essays research papers

Feenberg believes his Critical Theory of Technology to be the nearly useful and accurate of his three theories on technology. His captious guess of technology is said to be a combination of the best points of some(prenominal) the substantive and instrumental theories of technology go simultaneously allowing for technological progress. For the think of this paper, I testament go into depth on Feenbergs critical theory of technology however, in order to understand this theory, we must in short examine his two other theories of technology, which be the substantive, and the instrumental theories of technology.Feenberg has three take hold ofs of technology. They are the instrumental theory, the substantive theory, and the critical theories of technology. The instrumental theory is "the dominant view of modern governments and the policy sciences on which they rely." (Feenberg P. 5) It views technology as inferior to plastered values in other societies. The substantive th eory "argues that technology constitutes a new type of cultural system that restructures the entire social beingness as an object of control." (Feenberg p. 7) This substantive theory forces technology on societies distinctive customs and ideas. The third view on technology is what Feenberg believes to be the most useful and accurate. This would be his critical theory of technology, which is said to be a combination of the best points of both the substantive and instrumental theories of technology while allowing for technological progress as well.The substantive theory of technology argues that the raise technology has on society is more damaging then the transparent effects of the technologies themselves. Jacques Ellul and Martin Heidegger believe that technology establishes a new way of victuals that rebuilds society as something that they cannot control themselves.An example would be to compare quick diet to a pedestal cooked meal. Though some argue that dissolute food is an amazing technology in itself by allowing one to recover hot food in a few minutes notice, others will argue differently. Some see it as a replacement of the home cooked meal that brings families together every evening for dinner. This is the time for families to share and pass off their thoughts, feelings and ideas with one another. Everyone is able to catch up with each other disdain the craziness in ones own life. The convenience and technology of fast food takes something away from families and the one chance a day that they might not otherwise receive to talk to one another.