by Cory Scruton
The study of the philosophy of technology has basically not been researched. The drive to examine the nature and significance of artificial aids to human activity is something that many researchers have not yet keyed on. Today, technology enhances virtually everything in or society, but still we fail to study it from a critical point of view.
There are many who believe that the research of technology should come from those who develop the innovations of today and tomorrow. These individuals understand that further technology will be along to aid in the future, so they do not see the point in worrying about its problems and philosophy.
Technology may be progressing so fast that simple tasks are complicated by the presence of technological devices. There are also new law enforcement problems that have to be dealt, due to technological advances. Technology affects the lives of everyone in many different ways and it is impossible to avoid its advancement.
Technological change can be seen as a "cause" and everyone and everything that follows can be seen as an "effect". Humans must adapt as new devices, techniques and systems impact our lives today and become second nature tomorrow.
Winner also views some of Marx and Wittgensteins' beliefs as he looks at technological change:
We see the actions and interactions of everyday life within an enormous tapestry of historical events.Social activity is an ongoing process of world-making Are there human dimensions of technology that have been long-overlooked? Do we need to study the production of psychological, social and political conditions as a part of any significant technical change, while still paying attention to the making of physical instruments and its processes? These and many other unanswered questions must be looked at, to insure the most successful future is guaranteed.