Rethinking Science, Technology, and Social Change

Ralph Schroeder challenges the prevailing notion that science and technology are constructed or socially shaped. His book puts forth a case for technological determinism, based on a realistic and pragmatic account of science and technology, informed by historical comparisons. Schroeder begins by exploring the social organization of scientific and technological advances; the intersecting trajectories of big science and technological systems; and the impact of science and technology on economic change. He goes on to discuss the social implications of technology, including the way that it affects politics and consumption. The book then rethinks traditional theories about the relationship between science, technology, and social change. The argument presented shifts the debate on topics such as the relationship between growth and sustainability, and thus has important policy implications. This book is of great interest to scholars, scientists, and anyone interested in understanding how science and technology are transforming our world.