STS Final Exam Questions and Answers
The Enlightenment model of progress - Answer-The ideas of a future driven by continuous progress in
an idealistic world
Comprehensive betterment of the human condition, individually & socially
Materialism - Answer-The collective American viewpoint after the Industrial Revolution; focused only on
improvement of material conditions
Technology is seen as the "driver" of progress, while science was perceived is the "source" of
technological innovation
Progress in any respect other than material is a natural consequence of improvements made to material
existence
concrete / abstract - Answer-Technology is only concerned w/ materials ( ______ problems) not social
(______) problems
"tragedy of the commons" - Answer-More resources increases desire to have more increases, thus we
cannot all "graze our own sheep"
, multi-modal causation - Answer-Problems are caused by more than just one factor
Ex.) Martin Luther & the Protestant Reformation - not just caused by the printing press; the stirrup
technological determinism - Answer-Whether a given technological idea would be realized as the same
or similar concrete artifact if it were developed in different social contexts (will an artifact change in
design based on who makes it?)
Does a technology produce the same effect in different culture/groups?
Answer must be yes to both questions
technology will develop the same in all places and will definitely develop; loss of agency & control -
Answer-Concerns of technological determinism:
be able to trace the origins & development from production to origin & to accurately predict future
technologies from present ones - Answer-If technological determinism exists, we must:
stirrup - Answer-Ignores contributing factors (such as the pre-existing patterns of social organization -
nobility was already established, this just increased the amount of control over populations)
Tax revenues were already paid in goods & services
Came at a time when organization was weak and in need of strength
Multi-modal causation
The Enlightenment model of progress - Answer-The ideas of a future driven by continuous progress in
an idealistic world
Comprehensive betterment of the human condition, individually & socially
Materialism - Answer-The collective American viewpoint after the Industrial Revolution; focused only on
improvement of material conditions
Technology is seen as the "driver" of progress, while science was perceived is the "source" of
technological innovation
Progress in any respect other than material is a natural consequence of improvements made to material
existence
concrete / abstract - Answer-Technology is only concerned w/ materials ( ______ problems) not social
(______) problems
"tragedy of the commons" - Answer-More resources increases desire to have more increases, thus we
cannot all "graze our own sheep"
, multi-modal causation - Answer-Problems are caused by more than just one factor
Ex.) Martin Luther & the Protestant Reformation - not just caused by the printing press; the stirrup
technological determinism - Answer-Whether a given technological idea would be realized as the same
or similar concrete artifact if it were developed in different social contexts (will an artifact change in
design based on who makes it?)
Does a technology produce the same effect in different culture/groups?
Answer must be yes to both questions
technology will develop the same in all places and will definitely develop; loss of agency & control -
Answer-Concerns of technological determinism:
be able to trace the origins & development from production to origin & to accurately predict future
technologies from present ones - Answer-If technological determinism exists, we must:
stirrup - Answer-Ignores contributing factors (such as the pre-existing patterns of social organization -
nobility was already established, this just increased the amount of control over populations)
Tax revenues were already paid in goods & services
Came at a time when organization was weak and in need of strength
Multi-modal causation
