Arts and Science 3BB3 – Social Control of Technology Detailed Course Schedule – 2004

Week Date Monday

12:30–1:20pm

Tuesday 1:30-2:20pm*

Thursday 12:30-1:20pm

Reading

1 Jan 5-9 Introduction to Content

Intro to Process and Content

Group-led session & Seminar Planning

Daley & Cobb (J12) Lindblom & Woodhouse (J13)

2 Jan 12-16 The Market Public Policy I Government Street (J15)

3 Jan 19-24 Public Policy II Dr. B. Carroll

Seminar 1 Professions/ Ethics

di Norcia (J22) Chapman (J22)

4 Jan 26-30 Group-led Session 1

Seminar 2 Experts Woodhouse & Nieusma (J29) Solomon (J29) [Assn #1 J29]

5

Feb 2-6 Group-led Session 2

Seminar 3 Group-led Session 4

Shrader-Frechette (F5)

6

Feb 9-13 Group-led Session 3

Seminar 4 Technology Assessment

Davis et. al. (F12) [Assn #2 F12]

7

Feb 16-20 Reading Week

8

Feb 23-27 Group-led Session 5

Seminar 5 Risk Assessment & Perception

Wolfe et. al. (F26)

9

Mar 1-5 Group-led Session 6

Seminar 6 Public Participation Sclove (M4) [Assn #3 M4]

10

Mar 8-12 Group-led Session 7

Seminar 7 Pattern Language Joss (M11)

11

Mar 15-19 Group-led Session 8

Seminar 8 Cultural Change Dr. W. Vanderburg

Layne (M18)

12

Mar 22-26 Group-led Session 9

Seminar 9 Group-led Session 10 Shumacher (M25) [Assn #4 M25]

13

Mar 29- Apr 2

Group-led Session 11

Seminar 10 Alternative Technology

Homer-Dixon (A1)

14

Apr 5-9 Group-led Session 12

Seminar 11 [Integrative Assn A9]

* Seminars will not necessarily be on Tuesdays. Tutorial groups will meet at different times throughout the week.

Democracy and Technology

Sclove, 1995. Democracy and Technology

Available on Reserve at Mills Library

– Argues that in many ways the development of technology is incompatible with democracy

– Our everyday life consists of tech. choices in which we did not participate

Major question is “how does technology bear on democracy?”

-         “Should we commit ourselves to evolving such institutions and to adopting only those technologies that are compatible with democracy? Until we do, I shall argue, there can be no democracy worthy of the name.” (p9)

Types of Democracy

• “Strong democracy” – organizing society along relatively egalitarian and participatory lines

• “Thin democracy” – preoccupation with representative institutions, periodic elections, and competition among conflicting private interests, elites and power blocs. (p26)

- Argues, our society is predominantly a thin democracy w.r.t. technological control

• Does the public really want to be involved? When?

• Can the public be involved in a meaningful way?

The Old Order Amish An Example of Strong Democratic

Control of Technology• Each local Amish community:

– acts collectively

– asks “how would the adoption of a technology affect the community as a whole?”

– innovations that would tend, on balance, to preserve the community, its religion, and its harmonious relation with nature are permitted

– those that appear to threaten the community and its values are rejected

– decision is reached through a process of public discussion and democratic ratification

Figure 12-1. Institutionalizing a Democratic Politics of Technology

A. Awareness and Mobilization1. Map local needs and resources2. Educate, conduct social research3. Reach out to political movements4. Create more time for politics

B. Core Activities and Institutions5. Initiate democratic R&D and design6. Seek civic technological empowerment7. Strengthen democratic evaluation, choice and governance8. Promote supportive institutions

C. Supporting Macroconditions9. Democratize corporations, bureaucracy and the state10. Subordinate the military to democratic prerogatives11. Evolve world political-economic relations that are more compatible

with strong democracy

Group Project Topics1.      Corporations, Bureaucracy and the State (Sclove p. 231)2.      Patent Law and Innovation 3.      Military Technology, Democracy and the Common Good (Sclove p. 232)4.      Transnational Corporations, Foreign Policy, and the World Economy (Sclove p. 235)5.      Education6.      Literature and Technological Ethics7.      Democratic Design Process and RD&D (Sclove p. 207)8.      The Rashomon Effect9.      Media and the Control of Technology10. Impact Statements and Social Trials (Sclove p. 219)11.  Integrative Technology Assessment (Sclove p. 221)12.  Democratically Monitored RD&D (Sclove p. 209)13.  Civic Empowerment (Sclove p. 212)14.  Consensus Conference15.  Community-based Research 16.  Healthy City Movement or Vision 202017.  Alternatives18.  Neo-Luddites19.  Community-based Technology