STS FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS
what effect do metaphors have on the complex questions we're discussing? - Answer-metaphors
further mystify the question at hand
how are world wars a combination of past fighting techniques and the future world? - Answer-both
horseback and machine guns were used
does Winner advocate for a more inclusive definition of progress? - Answer-yes
who is to blame for the "outsourcing pineapples" issue? - Answer-society
what is the most likely explanation for the Dunbar number being 150, but we connect to more than 150
people on social media? - Answer-we've sliced the 150 connections into smaller and smaller pieces, or
we have people cycling in and out of our lives
what are the 2 reasons philosophy of technology never got underway? - Answer-(1) we think the only
way to make progress is by inventing new machines
(2) we think the human relationship w technology is too obvious to merit serious reflection
, who coined the term "forms of life"? - Answer-wittgenstein
who coined the term "modes of life"? - Answer-karl marx
what are 3 technologies that created entirely new human behaviors? - Answer-air travel, space travel,
and genetic engineering
what does Marx say will happen as we move toward a state of general wealth? - Answer-Marx argues
that if people spent less time on "work", they could enrich their individuality and become
multidimensional
what does Marx's "modes of life" prove? - Answer-that social changes are not just an after-effect of
technology
how are we all "makers of the iPhone"? - Answer-because the makers can't make them without us. we
signal to the makers when we want something, and we fund the makers.
is culture static or dynamic? and why? - Answer-dynamic because it entails changing relationships
between what is old and what is being reconfigured
what is tradition? - Answer-the meanings, values, artifacts, and practices that are handed down to us
what is selection? - Answer-the selecting, challenging, and arranging of these artifacts and ideas in
everyday life in the interaction with changing material circumstances
what is culture? - Answer-the process whereby tradition is reconfigured in the historical conditions of
everyday life. culture is both the experiences we are born into and how these are challenged or
reinforced through our experiences of the world
SOLUTIONS
what effect do metaphors have on the complex questions we're discussing? - Answer-metaphors
further mystify the question at hand
how are world wars a combination of past fighting techniques and the future world? - Answer-both
horseback and machine guns were used
does Winner advocate for a more inclusive definition of progress? - Answer-yes
who is to blame for the "outsourcing pineapples" issue? - Answer-society
what is the most likely explanation for the Dunbar number being 150, but we connect to more than 150
people on social media? - Answer-we've sliced the 150 connections into smaller and smaller pieces, or
we have people cycling in and out of our lives
what are the 2 reasons philosophy of technology never got underway? - Answer-(1) we think the only
way to make progress is by inventing new machines
(2) we think the human relationship w technology is too obvious to merit serious reflection
, who coined the term "forms of life"? - Answer-wittgenstein
who coined the term "modes of life"? - Answer-karl marx
what are 3 technologies that created entirely new human behaviors? - Answer-air travel, space travel,
and genetic engineering
what does Marx say will happen as we move toward a state of general wealth? - Answer-Marx argues
that if people spent less time on "work", they could enrich their individuality and become
multidimensional
what does Marx's "modes of life" prove? - Answer-that social changes are not just an after-effect of
technology
how are we all "makers of the iPhone"? - Answer-because the makers can't make them without us. we
signal to the makers when we want something, and we fund the makers.
is culture static or dynamic? and why? - Answer-dynamic because it entails changing relationships
between what is old and what is being reconfigured
what is tradition? - Answer-the meanings, values, artifacts, and practices that are handed down to us
what is selection? - Answer-the selecting, challenging, and arranging of these artifacts and ideas in
everyday life in the interaction with changing material circumstances
what is culture? - Answer-the process whereby tradition is reconfigured in the historical conditions of
everyday life. culture is both the experiences we are born into and how these are challenged or
reinforced through our experiences of the world
