Instrumental and Mechanical Marxism: Technology as an Independent Force

• Forces (means) of production are the central elements which lead to an understanding of social structure and human potential.
• Technological change improves productivity and efficiency- a necessary step in the pursuit of human freedom.
• Forces of Production=> Social Relations of Production=> Social Reality.
• Capitalism emerges as a result of class conflict, yet is dependent upon a technology of industrial production.

• Technological innovation and change occurs within society.
• Social relations of production impact the nature, direction, and rate of technological development.
• Intellectual, as well as technical, reality reflects the interests of dominant groups; yet these dominant groups are emeshed within the technological.
• Understanding technological change, and its products must be centered in an understanding of power relationships.
• Technology, as a reified, autonomous (appearing) reality does promote stratification. Those who "understand" it or effectively "use" it are accorded and command special status.
• Technology (technics) can and does become an effective mechanism of social control- both directly and indirectly.
• But, this is far more than a simple conspiracy theory- perhaps more of a "systems" approach which recognizes the problems of inequality.

Here are links to the work of some of my students who are proceeding along nicely. The articles dealt with here can be found in: Stoss, Randall. Editor. 1989. Technology and Society in Twentieth Century America. Dorsey Press: Chicago, IL.

• Myong Cho's analysis of Kennedy's "Birth Control in America"
• Joe Light's analysis of Illich's "Medical Nemesis"
• Anthony Roberson's analysis of Braverman's "Labor and Monopoly Capital"
• Anne Brady's analysis of Cowan's "More Work for Mother"
• Cory Scurton's analysis of Jackson's ""The Crabgrass Frontier"
• Tracy Carpenter's analysis of Galbraith's "The New Industrial State"
• Greg McLaughlin's analysis of Noble's "America by Design"
• Tom East's analysis of Rhodes' "The Making of the Atomic Bomb"

URL: http://www.umsl.edu/~keelr/280/critical.html
Owner: Robert O. Keel: rok@umsl.edu
Last Updated: Monday, February 29, 2016 8:20