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Methodological Luddism: A concept for tying degrowth to the assessment and regulation of technologies
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Orientador(es)
Resumo(s)
This article sets out an alternative approach to the assessment and regulation of technology and
innovation, situated in and aiming at degrowth and building on an idea first put forward in the late 1970s
by Langdon Winner called “methodological Luddism”. Methodological Luddism does not have the
original meaning of destroying machines, nor does it reflect a prejudiced attitude or a negative view of
technology. As outlined in this article, it sets out to overcome the presumption that technology is valueneutral and to lower the inflated expectations with which it is generally associated. Technology and
forms of life are mutually interdependent, and this implies examining the constructive possibilities for
withdrawing from some technologies and adopting others, while ensuring that their role is limited to
means designed to achieve certain predefined ends. The article draws on the work of Hans Jonas and
Albert Borgmann, authors yet to be acknowledged by the degrowth literature. Jonas’ principle of
responsibility is a response to the excessive prowess of modern technologies, while Borgmann suggests a reform of technology through focal things and practices. Building on these concepts, methodological
Luddism advocates reassessing and reorienting technologies so that informed decisions may be taken as to how they should be designed and developed as means to socially equitable and ecologically
sustainable ends. In this way the technological sphere may become an important ally in the
transformative change in society which is required to fulfil the axiological parameters of degrowth.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Degrowth Methodological Luddism Technology assessment Reform of technology Responsibility Focal things and practices
Contexto Educativo
Citação
Garcia, J. L., Jerónimo, H. M. , Carvalho, T. M. (2018). Methodological luddism: A concept for trying degrowth to the assessement and regulation of technologies. Special issue "Degrowth and Technology". Journal of Cleaner Production, 197, 1647-1653
Editora
Elsevier