Luhmann and Technology

Beskrivelse

Society, technology and the human-machine interface – online seminar series, 2024

The escalating prominence of artificial intelligence (AI) in society necessitates a nuanced understanding of technology's role in relation to society and communication. Current theoretical frameworks often adopt an instrumental or deterministic view of technology: they either see technology merely as tools that serve human purposes without significantly influencing social structures (instrumentalism), or they assume that technological development follows a fixed path that inexorably shapes society in specific ways (determinism).

This reductionist approach overlooks the complex, reciprocal interactions between technology and society. The online seminar series aims to transcend these limitations by integrating philosophical, theoretical, and historical sociological perspectives

This seminar series explored the nature of technology and its intricate relationship with individuals and society, highlighting the need for a more sophisticated discourse that acknowledges technology's active role in shaping social dynamics and human communication.

"Technology, Society and the Individual”

The seminar series is also part of the development of a proposal for an edited volume titled "Technology, Society and the Individual”, which explores the theoretical, historical and sociological dimensions of technological systems using inter/transdisciplinary approaches.

The contributors, from diverse disciplines, will engage with topics ranging from cartography and sanitation to artificial intelligence and renewable energy systems, providing a comprehensive examination of the social constructs and characteristics of technology. This volume aims to contribute to the understanding of technology as a social construct, with implications for future research directions.

Seminar 1: Luhmann and Technology

Tuesday 5 March, 13.00-15.00 GMT, online via zoom

This presentation explores the theoretical understanding of technology within the framework of Niklas Luhmann's systems theory.

It begins with a summary of Luhmann's key contributions to the theory of technology, with a particular focus on his technical terms and distinctions. Subsequently, it reflects on how we can expand and adapt Luhmann's considerations to encompass developments within the field of technology that have occurred since his writings. Finally, it presents a proposal for how Luhmann's sociology of technology can be further developed, viewing technology as an independent functional system in modern society.

Speaker

Dr Jesper Tække

Periode	5 mar. 2024
Begivenhedstitel	Society, technology and the human-machine interface: online seminar series, 2024
Begivenhedstype	Seminar
Konferencenummer	1
Grad af anerkendelse	International