Why Are Humans Different?
Many animals are tool users. This is not technology, as humans practice it. From the earliest stone tools, humans recognised both techniques and designs as components of technology. Design is over-arching: it concerns not merely the choice of techniques a
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William Gosling
Culture’s Engine
William Gosling
Culture’s Engine Inside Science and Technology
William Gosling University of Bath Bath, UK
ISBN 978-981-15-4591-7 ISBN 978-981-15-4592-4 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4592-4 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover illustration: © Matej Ograjensek / Alamy Stock Photo This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore
to Naomi Climer President 2015–2016 of the Institution of Engineering and Technology Her distinguished role is shared with many great names from the past but to be the first woman elected in its one and a half centuries is to make history
Acknowledgements
I began writing about technology as a young lecturer at Swansea University and was honoured when Herbert Simon took an interest in my first book, encouraging me to continue. He hoped for an objective ‘design science’. It seems an impossible dream now, but my gratitude to him remains. Towards the end of the last century, David Gooding, historian and philosopher of science, encouraged me to present a radical view of technology in a Masters’ degree programme at the University of Bath. Over several years the talented students on the course tested and enlightened me. They have my heartfelt gratitude. I had come to feel that there was a place for a study of technology ‘from the inside’, looking at its distinctive way of working. At Bath, it was fortunate that I also encountered Helen Haste, an innovative and inspiring psychologist. She understood what I would be attempting in the book I had begun to plan and suggested h
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