Archive for the ‘Kline’ tag
R&L 5: What is Technology?
Respond to this thread by Tuesday’s class for participation credit this week. Also, I am knee deep in grading online material; I should be done before you turn in your midterm (Due next Thursday!!!)
- Is Kline’s four part definition of technology complete? Is it comprehensive? Are the distinctions between the four parts clear? If not, can you give counterexamples that don’t fit his definition?
- Is technology a uniquely human activity? Is it a central pattern of human behavior? Are the results of human technological activity ‘non-natural’?
- Can animals use technology, in any sense of Kline’s definition? Can animals innovate?
- Are animals ‘world-closed’? Are humans ‘world-open’?
- Nietzsche says “Man is the underdetermined creature.” Is man underdetermined by nature, and does this make man unique among the animals?
- Plessner identifies Laughing and Crying as unique features of human beings, as a result of our ex-centric relationship to our bodies. Is Plessner right about this relationship, and are there any other behaviors that reveal this unique position?
Also, I was right about Arendt, and here’s more info on stigmergy.
Open Thread
Chatter away.
Reminder: Next week we will spend most of Tuesday talking about the Kline article “What is Technology?”, and most of Thursday talking about the Marx selection from Das Kapital. Both articles can be found in the course packet.
Also, if you haven’t ordered “On The Internet“, do so now!