Unit 8
Discussion: Life & Death & Technology
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I’ve provided an example of how rationalization shapes our social
institutions in this lecture. I have also suggested that Volti is describing
a very rational process in his description of the military. For this week’s
discussion I’d like you to use the concept of rationalization to understand
the development of modern warfare. Find examples in Chapters 13 & 14
of how efficiency, predictability, calculability, and dehumanization affected
the decisions made about technologies adopted. How did those technologies
in turn contribute to the process of rationalization in warfare. What does
rationalization help you understand about science and technology in a social
context? Be sure to sure o use the Resources provided at the end of this
lecture to learn more about rationalization.
Click on the Group's button in Blackboard and scroll down to find, read,
and participate in this Unit's discussion. To read the Discussion Threads
efficiently, follow these instructions:
- Open a forum.
- Click Show Options.
- Use the check boxes to select the messages
you want to view.
- Click Collect in the options.
- Read the text from all the selected messages.
- Respond to posts individually.
I will assess your contributions on their relevance, thoughtfulness, and
degree to which they reflect an engagement with the reading and not just
with unsubstantiated opinions.
Each graded comment should be 100 to 300 words. One graded comment per
Unit is intended as a bare minimum. Of course you may linger in the discussion
boards and enter as many comments as you like. Incidentally, you may enter "extra" comments
under the same topic. That is what makes discussion and interaction possible.
Participation in each week's discussion is worth up to 10 points plus an
additional 10 if you are the Group Leader for that week.
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