In environmental sociology, which is of particular interest to most seminar participants, technologies are generally treated as a potent destroyers of ecosystems, but are not theorized much beyond that. In Soc535, we take a different tack, focusing directly on technology as a fundamental element in human evolution and as a crucial constituent in the creation and maintenance of society, social relations, and human experience. This view of technology as a complex of artifacts, acts and social organization represents a rapidly expanding field of interest for sociologists. The relevant literature is not coherent, however, and it is quite interdisciplinary, requiring us to consider work in anthropology, history, philosophy, material culture studies, and political science, as well as sociology. The latter will result in a seminar presentation and final paper.
Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability.
Please notify the instructor during the first week of class of any accommodations needed for the course. Late notification may cause the requested accommodations to be unavailable. Course Texts Wiebe E. Bijker. Paul Hawken, L. Hunter Lovins, Amory Lovins. Back Bay Books.