Does Technology Drive History? The Dilemma of Technological Determinism (Paperback)

by Merritt Roe Smith (Editor), Leo Marx (Editor) "The belief in technology as a key governing force in society dates back at least to the early stages of the Industrial Revolution..." (more)
Key Phrases: machines make history, authoritarian technics, nological determinism, United States, Andrew Carnegie, Lewis Mumford (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
These thirteen essays explore a crucial historical question that has been notoriously hard to pin down: To what extent, and by what means, does a society's technology determine its political, social, economic, and cultural forms? Karl Marx launched the modern debate on determinism with his provocative remark that "the hand-mill gives you society with the feudal lord; the steam-mill, society with the industrial capitalist," and a classic article by Robert Heilbroner (reprinted here) renewed the debate within the context of the history of technology. This book clarifies the debate and carries it forward. Marx's position has become embedded in our culture, in the form of constant reminders as to how our fast-changing technologies will alter our lives. Yet historians who have looked closely at where technologies really come from generally support the proposition that technologies are not autonomous but are social products, susceptible to democratic controls. The issue is crucial for democratic theory. These essays tackle it head-on, offering a deep look at all the shadings of determinism and assessing determinist models in a wide variety of historical contexts. Contributors: Bruce Bimber. Richard W. Bulliet. Robert L. Heilbroner. Thomas P. Hughes. Leo Marx. Thomas J. Misa. Peter C. Perdue. Philip Scranton. Merritt Roe Smith. Michael L. Smith. John M. Staudenmaier. Rosalind Williams.

About the Author
Merritt Roe Smith is Professor of History of Technology and Director of the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Leo Marx is Senior Lecturer and Kenan Professor of American Cultural History Emeritus.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (June 2, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262691671
• ISBN-13: 978-0262691673
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #467,401 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Machines Rule (Or Do They?), February 4, 2008

By	doomsdayer520 (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This collection of essays purportedly addresses the philosophical theory of technological determinism - the belief that human behavior and culture is driven by technology and its unintended (or intended) consequences. Of course, the theory has many nuances and permutations, which are explored in depth by the various writers here. The book starts off with fine introductions to the topic, particularly the opening essay by Merritt Roe Smith and the seminal "Do Machines Make History?" by Robert Heilbroner. Unfortunately the book then descends into standard turgid theoretical obfuscations of dubious usefulness to anyone other than each professor's immediate colleagues. Examples include the standard academic exercise of reinterpreting the ideas of earlier thinkers and calling the results a new theory (Bruce Bimber, Thomas Mina), or forcing existing theories together and taking credit for the resulting "breakthrough" (Rosalind Williams, Leo Marx). Another running issue in this book is a lack of distinction among technology, progress, and modernity, as can be seen in the otherwise fascinating historical report by Michael L. Smith. And as usual for academic books that collect essays by various professors, everybody repeats the basic tenets of the theory at issue before embarking on their particular interpretation or example of interest. One benefit of this book is that the editors (both in their introduction and through the essay selection process) do not try to nail down a particular position on the many nuances of technological determinism, which is healthy for purposes of discussion. Regardless, little is accomplished by the writers except esoteric reinterpretations and feeble grasps for significance. [~doomsdayer520~]

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars gives perspective on technological change, March 31, 2005

By	W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This book is a fascinating summary of a centuries long debate in history. Can the development of technology shape large scale historical trends in a society? The essays in the book are as timely now as when it first came out ten years ago. While the authors talk about the general sweep of technology, across history, it lets readers possibly get some perspective on the changes currently underway.

From reading this book, you may get the sense that maybe our age is not unique in experiencing vast technological changes. Whichever side you come down on, in the book's debate, you might now look with scepticism on claims that our age is unique in this regard. Unless of course you go with the Extropians and their siren call of an approaching singularity.