The Evolution of Technology (Cambridge Studies in the History of Science) [ George Basalla] on *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Presents an. The Evolution of Technology by George Basalla (Cambridge University Press ) pp. viii , $, ISBN 0 I Pbk. The Evolution of Technology by George Basalla. Review by: Colleen We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms.
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Our cultural myths celebrate the wheel as a super-sacred icon.
G.Basalla: The Evolution of Technology
Society had far less resistance to new artifacts. The analogy of evolution to human activity that is often goal oriented which evolution most assuredly is not is problematic. They do not suffer from a persistent itch for more and more.
The path to sustainability is blocked by ideas — toxic illusions, metabolized into highly contagious beliefs, resulting in mass insanity. This is a briliant survey on the evolution of technological novelties, narrated inside the paradigm of classical “Mullerian” theories of cultural evolution.
For most evolurion the hominid journey, our artifacts were little more than sticks bzsalla stones, and their evolution happened very slowly. It challenges the popular notion that technology advances by the efforts of a few heroic individuals who produce a series of revolutionary inventions owing little or nothing to This book presents an evolutionary theory of technological change based upon recent scholarship in the history of technology and upon relevant material fhe from economic history and anthropology.
I taught this book dvolution engineering students doing a history course at the University of Toronto in and There is no shortage of better ideas.
His factors are similar, although in this case he pays more attention to involvement of the economy and the military. History of Western Philosophy. The wheel was first used in Mesopotamia, about 5, years ago. It is important to understand that for almost the entire hominid journey, our ancestors enjoyed a relatively sustainable way of life, and that this era corresponds exactly with the long, long era when technological evolution was essentially in a coma.
He just mentions how closed the Muslims against the scientific progress, just by mentioning a hadith of the Prophet Muhammed as there are lots of other hadiths that encourage people to learn new things. Request removal from index. If it’s the case that “revolutions” are more a product of historical analysis than actual fact, what criteria can we use tecnnology calling an artifact or invention “novel”, and what factors in society determine these criteria? Basalla didn’t even mention about the scientific progresses of the Eastern civilizations.
No sustainable society used wheels, because they had no need for them. Rajesh rated evoltion did not like it Mar 05, Of particular interest is his counterfactual look at how there are potential alternative technologies for those adapted at various points in history: Three themes basakla, with variations, throughout the study.
This yields a perfect segue into the next two chapters, which are all about novelty.
Of course some changes are more important than others technoloby They have no need for it, and experimenting with it could permanently destroy them.
Basalla claims that The Evolution of Technology is an historical look at technology, and not a philosophy of science textbook. Their culture had a healthy resistance to change, because their efolution traditions kept them on a good path.
Refresh and try again. This intoxicant was conjured by notorious buffoons years ago, and its side effects include disorientation, anxiety, and uncontrollable self-destructive impulses. Selected pages Title Page.
The evolution of technology
Aug 10, Sherwin added it Recommends it for: Cyrienius rated it really liked it Nov 25, Nationalism also played a part in the 19th Century Economic and Military Factors. Published June 10th by Cambridge University Press first published History does not record any widespread, cataclysmic extinctions of entire classes of artifacts, although something similar might occur on a local level in remote communities or on isolated islands”.
The Tje of Intimacy in the Evolution of Technology. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Therefore, the popular but illusory concept of technological progress should be discarded.
This isn’t random science fiction speculation on his part—while any counterfactual history is ultimately speculative, Basalla draws on serious studies on the subject to marshal support for his anti-deterministic argument for the evolution of technology.
The Evolution of Technology works because Basalla articulates his thesis so clearly and precisely that his entire argument is, if not convincing, at least admirable. Humans no longer sit in the pilot seat of our global civilization.
The Evolution of Technology – George Basalla – Google Books
Books by George Basalla. The Impact of ‘Anthropotechnology’ on Human Evolution. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Why did inventions occur?