We see the ocean navigated and the solid land traversed by steam power, and intelligence communicated by electricity. Truly this is almost a miraculous era. What is before us no one can say, what is upon us no one can hardly realize.
Daniel Webster, 1903
Welcome to Sociology 415: The Sociology of Technology!
The purposes of Sociology 415 are to provide:
- an understanding of linkages among science, technology, and society,
- an understanding of public risk perceptions, and
- skills for communicating about risk to professional audiences and the public.
In Sociology 415 we will:
- learn about linkages among science, technology, and society.
- examine popular images of science and to what extent the actual practice of science corresponds with these images.
- explore philosophical perspectives on technology and how these perspectives influence public decisions about what kinds of technology to develop and how to evaluate existing technology.
- learn seven approaches to risk assessment and the strengths and limitations of each approach.
- learn strategies for risk communication, particularly related to gaining either the adoption or rejection of complex and controversial innovations.
I hope you find the course to be intellectually stimulating, useful in your life, and an enjoyable experience.
Organization of This Website
This website contains five sections: Home Page, Syllabus, Calendar, Reading Assignments, and Class Assignments.
Reading Assignments
The web pages listed in the Reading Assignments section provide all the reading materials needed for this course. No textbooks or other materials are required. Most of the links provided on the web pages reference non-required reading.
Sociology 415 begins by presenting a sampler of readings that describe social issues related to three complex and controversial agricultural technologies:
- large-scale hog-confinement operations,
- food irradiation, and
- genetic modification of food.
In reading about these technologies we will see that they offer great promise for improving the agricultural economy and the health and well-being of people worldwide. Yet, they raise ethical issues and concerns about potential negative effects on the environment, the quality of life in rural areas, and social and economic equity.
Class Assignments
Class assignments include two papers, three brief quizzes, three exams, and a computer simulation exercise. The Calendar shows the due dates for these assignments.
A Note Regarding the Artwork Displayed at This Website
In his masterpiece, Modern Times, Charlie Chaplin portrays with endearing humor the tribulations of the Tramp as he confronts the overly mechanized, dehumanized, and irrational consequences of technological advancements in modern society. The Tramp copes as best as possible with rapidly moving assembly lines, automatic feeding devices, and giant machines that devour people whole! The images portrayed here pay tribute to a great film and hopefully will brighten your day.
Thank you to the Roy Export Company Establishment for their permission to use the photographs displayed on this website.
