Thinking through Science and Technology: Philosophy, Religion, and Politics in an Engineered World

Thinking through Science and Technology explores how individual and societal beliefs, values, and actions are transformed by science, technology, and engineering, offering practical and theoretical insights from philosophers, policymakers, STS scholars, and engineers. It explores foundational beliefs at the core of engineering education and practice, the movement of ideas between Western and Chinese scholars, and the complex interwoven relationship between ideas from religion, science, and technology. It also critically examines the forces and frameworks that shape the development and evaluation of scientific practice and the innovation and adoption of technology, with an emphasis on national and global policy. It is a global resource for established scholars and anyone seeking a more comprehensive understanding of social and technoscientific entanglements that permeate contemporary life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 582 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Thinking through Science and Technology is a groundbreaking collection that explores the transformative impact of science, technology, and engineering on individual and societal beliefs, values, and actions. It brings together practical and theoretical insights from philosophers, policymakers, STS scholars, and engineers to illuminate the promise, perils, and paradoxes of technoscientific change. The volume develops a philosophical understanding of technology and its inscription in a wider web of social and political meanings, values, and civilizational change, with an emphasis on the movement of ideas between Western and Chinese scholars and the complex interwoven relationship between ideas from religion, science, and technology. Contributors critically examine the forces and frameworks that shape the development and evaluation of scientific practice and the innovation and adoption of technology, with an emphasis on national and global policy. The volume offers a critical and timely reflection on science and technology that counters trends toward technological optimism and disciplinary and cultural regionalization. It serves as an essential reference for established scholars as well as anyone seeking a more comprehensive understanding of social and technoscientific entanglements that permeate contemporary life.

The book is organized into four sections:

Section 1: Foundations of Technoscience: This section explores the foundational beliefs at the core of engineering education and practice, with an emphasis on the movement of ideas between Western and Chinese scholars. It examines the complex interwoven relationship between ideas from religion, science, and technology as they have evolved in the West.

Section 2: Technoscientific Change: This section examines the forces and frameworks that shape the development and evaluation of scientific practice and the innovation and adoption of technology. It explores the impact of national and global policy on these processes and the ethical and social implications of technoscientific change.

Section 3: Technoscientific Entanglements: This section examines the complex interconnections between different aspects of technoscience, such as science, technology, engineering, and society. It explores the ways in which these entanglements shape our understanding of the world and our place in it.

Section 4: Critical Perspectives: This section includes critical perspectives on technoscience, including feminist, postcolonial, and critical race theory. It examines the ways in which these perspectives challenge traditional assumptions about technoscience and offer alternative ways of thinking about the role of science, technology, and engineering in society.

The contributors to Thinking through Science and Technology are a diverse group of scholars from around the world. They include Gordon Akon-Yamga, Jennifer Karns Alexander, Andoni Alonso, and many others. Their contributions provide a rich and diverse range of perspectives on technoscience, and their writing is clear and accessible.

One of the key strengths of Thinking through Science and Technology is its interdisciplinary approach. The book brings together insights from philosophy, policy, STS, and engineering, and it demonstrates how these disciplines can work together to address complex social and technoscientific problems. This approach allows the book to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand and to offer practical solutions.

Another strength of the book is its emphasis on the ethical and social implications of technoscientific change. The contributors recognize that technoscientific change can have both positive and negative consequences, and they work to develop ethical frameworks that can guide the development and adoption of technology. This emphasis on ethics is particularly important in the context of global climate change, where the stakes are high and the consequences are far-reaching.

However, Thinking through Science and Technology also has some limitations. One of the main limitations is its focus on Western perspectives on technoscience. While the book includes contributions from scholars from other parts of the world, the majority of the contributors are from Western countries. This can lead to a bias in the book's coverage of technoscientific issues, and it can make it difficult for readers from other cultures to understand the issues at hand.

Another limitation is the book's length. At over 500 pages, the book can be quite dense and difficult to read. This can make it difficult for students and researchers who are new to the field to get a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

Despite these limitations, Thinking through Science and Technology is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the social and technoscientific entanglements that permeate contemporary life. The book's interdisciplinary approach, emphasis on the ethical and social implications of technoscientific change, and diverse range of contributors make it a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the world in which we live.

In conclusion, Thinking through Science and Technology is a groundbreaking collection that explores the transformative impact of science, technology, and engineering on individual and societal beliefs, values, and actions. It brings together practical and theoretical insights from philosophers, policymakers, STS scholars, and engineers to illuminate the promise, perils, and paradoxes of technoscientific change. The volume develops a philosophical understanding of technology and its inscription in a wider web of social and political meanings, values, and civilizational change, with an emphasis on the movement of ideas between Western and Chinese scholars and the complex interwoven relationship between ideas from religion, science, and technology. Contributors critically examine the forces and frameworks that shape the development and evaluation of scientific practice and the innovation and adoption of technology, with an emphasis on national and global policy. The volume offers a critical and timely reflection on science and technology that counters trends toward technological optimism and disciplinary and cultural regionalization. It serves as an essential reference for established scholars as well as anyone seeking a more comprehensive understanding of social and technoscientific entanglements that permeate contemporary life.

Weight: 934g
Dimension: 236 x 157 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538176504