Philosophy of Technology

“Dusek’s range of expertise is impressive, and his generous conception of what topics a philosophy of technology should consider is timely. In this field where there is not yet a ‘mainstream’ viewpoint, too few writers appreciate the importance of such wide coverage. Fewer still are knowledgeable enough to speak in all of these areas out of their own understanding. Val Dusek is and does. His book is precisely what the field now needs.” Robert C. Scharff, University of New Hampshire<!--end-->

“Val Dusek’s Philosophy of Technology offers students a comprehensive overview of the frequently neglected relationship between philosophy of science and technology by discussing classics like Heidegger and Marx and bringing them into dialogue with contemporaries such as Ellul and Ihde as well as feminist and ecological thinking.” Thomas Achen, Linköping University “The breadth of coverage is very impressive. Clearly written, understandable and comprehensive. Its breadth and clarity of expression make it a welcome addition to the literature.” Journal of Information, Communication & Ethics in Society

From the Back Cover

Philosophy of Technology: An Introduction skillfully guides readers through the core philosophical issues raised by technology’s increasingly ubiquitous and powerful presence in society and our daily lives. Considering first the question of what technology is, Dusek goes on to address a wide range of concerns, including technocracy, technological rationality, technological determinism, and varieties of resistance to technology. Penetrating study questions at the end of each chapter provide the necessary tools to critically examine the nature of technology and its impact on our lives.

Technology Strategy for Managers and Entrepreneurs

As someone who teaches Technology Management at the MBA level, the publisher of Scott Shane's "Technology Strategy for Managers and Entrepreneurs" sent me a free copy in the hope I would adopt it for my course. I won't be using this text and can't recommend it to others.

Almost any book on technology is out of date by the time it is published, but ones with "strategy" in the title should offer ideas that transcend the dynamic nature of technology. This book doesn't.

It starts in the preface (p. xvii) with "Why Do We Need This Book?" - a question that signals we probably don't need "this" book. His answer is, "... this book ensures that students develop an accurate understanding of the current state of the field" (p. xvii). "Ensure" and "current" are high standards and the author certainly fails to meet the latter. Social media, a pretty "current" theme and arguably the most disruptive technology of this decade, is given less than two pages. Should entrepreneurs be using Twitter, for example, as a component of their search engine optimization strategy? You won't find the answer in "Technology Strategy" - there are only two of almost 400 pages devoted to what the author calls "social networking". Twitter is not in the index; YouTube is mentioned once in a manner unrelated to its strategy. Instead the author shares that "research has shown that information tends to flow between people who are connected to each other ..." (p. 341). Wow. I'm glad I didn't have to pay over $60 for that wisdom.

The best part of the book is the information shared on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets so that entrepreneurs can benefit from their innovation. But for this price, that alone cannot justify buying this book.