{"product_id":"technocracy-and-the-epistemology-of-human-behavior-the-debate-over-power-without-knowledge-9781032357539","title":"Technocracy and the Epistemology of Human Behavior: The Debate over Power Without Knowledge","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eJeffrey Friedman's book \"Power Without Knowledge: A Critique of Technocracy\" reinterprets modern politics and government as technocratic, emphasizing the importance of recognizing ideational heterogeneity in human behavior. In \"Technocracy and the Epistemology of Human Behavior,\" thirteen political theorists debate the implications of Friedman's vision and he responds to his critics with a defense of his political epistemology. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 374 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 10 November 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Taylor \u0026amp; Francis Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn his groundbreaking book, \"Power Without Knowledge: A Critique of Technocracy\" (2019), Jeffrey Friedman offers a comprehensive reinterpretation of modern politics and government, portraying them as fundamentally technocratic, even in their democratic aspects. Building upon a novel definition of technocracy as governance focused on addressing social and economic challenges, Friedman demonstrates that the epistemic demands placed upon political elites and ordinary citizens by such governance can be overwhelming, particularly if technocrats fail to account for the diverse ideational perspectives of the human beings whose control is the subject of technocratic power. However, recognizing ideational heterogeneity significantly complicates the task of predicting behavior, which is crucial for technocratic control, as Friedman's pioneering critiques of neoclassical economics, positivist social science, behavioral economics, and populist democratic politics illustrate.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Technocracy and the Epistemology of Human Behavior,\" a collection of thirteen essays by political theorists, including Friedman himself, the book delves into the profound implications of \"Power Without Knowledge\" for social science, modern governance, the politics of expertise, post-structuralism, anarchism, and democratic theory. Friedman responds to his critics through an expansive defense of his vision of contemporary politics and his political epistemology of ideationally diverse human beings. This book originally appeared as a special issue of the \"Critical Review.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe central argument of \"Power Without Knowledge\" is that technocracy, characterized by its reliance on scientific expertise and technological solutions to societal problems, has become the dominant mode of governance in the modern world. While Friedman acknowledges the potential benefits of technocratic governance, he argues that it is inherently limited by its failure to recognize the inherent diversity of human beings and their diverse ideational perspectives. This lack of recognition leads to the homogenization of society, where individuals are treated as interchangeable parts of a larger system rather than as unique individuals with their own values, beliefs, and desires.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFriedman's critique extends to various fields, including economics, social science, and politics. He challenges the notion that markets are self-regulating entities that can solve all social and economic problems on their own. Instead, he argues that markets are subject to the influence of powerful actors, such as corporations and wealthy individuals, who can use their economic power to shape the market in their favor. This creates a system of inequality and exploitation, where the benefits of economic growth are concentrated in the hands of a small elite while the majority of people suffer from poverty and inequality.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn addition to his critiques of economic and social systems, Friedman also takes aim at positivist social science, which he sees as promoting a narrow view of human behavior that is based on empirical observation and scientific experimentation. He argues that positivist social science fails to account for the complex and multifaceted nature of human behavior, which is influenced by a wide range of factors, including cultural, social, and psychological factors. This leads to a misunderstanding of human behavior and a failure to address the root causes of social problems.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFriedman's critiques of neoclassical economics, positivist social science, behavioral economics, and populist democratic politics are particularly noteworthy. He argues that these approaches to economics and social science are based on a narrow view of human behavior that fails to account for the diverse ideational perspectives of human beings. He criticizes the notion that markets are self-regulating entities that can solve all social and economic problems on their own, arguing that markets are subject to the influence of powerful actors who can use their economic power to shape the market in their favor. He also criticizes the notion that human behavior can be reduced to simple equations and models, arguing that human behavior is complex and multifaceted and cannot be reduced to a set of universal laws.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn response to his critics, Friedman offers an expansive defense of his vision of contemporary politics and his political epistemology of ideationally diverse human beings. He argues that technocracy can be successful if it is guided by a recognition of the diversity of human beings and their diverse ideational perspectives. He advocates for a more democratic and inclusive approach to governance, where political elites and ordinary citizens are involved in the decision-making process and have a say in the policies that affect their lives. Friedman also argues that technocracy can be successful if it is guided by a commitment to scientific evidence and empirical research, rather than by ideology or political expediency.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOverall, \"Power Without Knowledge: A Critique of Technocracy\" is a thought-provoking and important book that offers a critical examination of modern politics and government. Friedman's argument that technocracy is inherently limited by its failure to recognize the diversity of human beings and their diverse ideational perspectives is a compelling one that challenges the dominant modes of governance in the modern world. Through his critiques of various fields, including economics, social science, and politics, Friedman offers a vision of contemporary politics that is more democratic, inclusive, and based on a recognition of the complex and multifaceted nature of human behavior. While his vision may be controversial, it is worth considering as we navigate the challenges of the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 870g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 216 x 138 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9781032357539\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shulph Ink","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44105064251642,"sku":"9781032357539","price":136.64,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1668781291482_book.jpg?v=1668932511","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/technocracy-and-the-epistemology-of-human-behavior-the-debate-over-power-without-knowledge-9781032357539","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}