Technological determinism is “an approach that identifies technology, or technological developments as the central causal element in the process of social change.” Based on your understanding of this theory, which of the following argument is true?

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When evaluating technological determinism, we focus on the claim that technology drives social change as a central causal element.
Option 1: 'Social forces shape the way in which technologies are designed' This statement emphasizes the influence of society on technology, which aligns more with social constructivist or interpretive perspectives rather than technological determinism. It downplays technology as the primary driver, so this is not the determinist view.
Option 2: 'Technology has an autonomous influence on society' This option captures the core idea of technological determinism: technology operates with a degree of autonomy and shapes social structures, values, and outcomes independent of human intention. It reflects the theory’s central claim that technological development is a primary driver of social change.
Option 3: 'Humans have the power to alter how we use technology' While this is true in many contexts, it highlights human agency in shaping application and use rather than the premise that technology itself determines social change. This statement emphasizes agency and usage decisions, which can contrast with determinist claims.
Option 4: 'Society is transformed according to a human, rather than a technical agenda' This option foregrounds human or social agendas in guiding transformation, which again runs counter to the determinist view that technology leads social change rather than being steered by human plans.
Overall, option 2 uniquely aligns with technological determinism by presenting technology as an autonomous force influencing social life, whereas the other options foreground social shaping, human agency, or human-guided agendas, which diverge from the determinist stance.

COMM 100N, Section 003 RI, SP25 (UP) Quiz 1

Technological determinism is “an approach that identifies technology, or technological developments as the central causal element in the process of social change.” Based on your understanding of this theory, which of the following argument is true?

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