Skip to content

Booksellers & Trade Customers: Sign up for online bulk buying at trade.atlanticbooks.com for wholesale discounts

Booksellers: Create Account on our B2B Portal for wholesale discounts

Does Technology Drive History?: The Dilemma of Technological Determinism

by Merritt Roe Smith , Leo Marx
Save 17% Save 17%
Current price ₹5,652.00
Original price ₹6,783.00
Original price ₹6,783.00
Original price ₹6,783.00
(-17%)
₹5,652.00
Current price ₹5,652.00

Imported Edition - Ships in 18-21 Days

Free Shipping in India on orders above Rs. 500

Request Bulk Quantity Quote
+91
Book cover type: Paperback
  • ISBN13: 9780262691673
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Subject: N/A
  • Publisher: MIT Press
  • Publisher Imprint: MIT Press
  • Publication Date:
  • Pages: 298
  • Original Price: GBP 39.37
  • Language: English
  • Edition: N/A
  • Item Weight: 486 grams
  • BISAC Subject(s): General

These thirteen essays explore a crucial historical questionthat has been notoriously hard to pin down: To what extent, and by what means, does a society's technology determine itspolitical, social, economic, and cultural forms?

These thirteen essays explore a crucial historical question that has been notoriously hard to pin down: To what extent, and by what means, does a society's technology determine its political, social, economic, and cultural forms? Karl Marx launched the modern debate on determinism with his provocative remark that "the hand-mill gives you society with the feudal lord; the steam-mill, society with the industrial capitalist," and a classic article by Robert Heilbroner (reprinted here) renewed the debate within the context of the history of technology. This book clarifies the debate and carries it forward.Marx's position has become embedded in our culture, in the form of constant reminders as to how our fast-changing technologies will alter our lives. Yet historians who have looked closely at where technologies really come from generally support the proposition that technologies are not autonomous but are social products, susceptible to democratic controls. The issue is crucial for democratic theory. These essays tackle it head-on, offering a deep look at all the shadings of determinism and assessing determinist models in a wide variety of historical contexts.

Contributors
Bruce Bimber, Richard W. Bulliet, Robert L. Heilbroner, Thomas P. Hughes, Leo Marx, Thomas J. Misa, Peter C. Perdue, Philip Scranton, Merritt Roe Smith, Michael L. Smith, John M. Staudenmaier, Rosalind Williams

Merritt Roe Smith is Cutten Professor of the History of Technology at MIT and the author or editor of six books, most recently Inventing America: A History of the United States.

Leo Marx is Senior Lecturer and Kenan Professor of American Cultural History, Emeritus, at MIT.

Trusted for over 49 years

Family Owned Company

Secure Payment

All Major Credit Cards/Debit Cards/UPI & More Accepted

New & Authentic Products

India's Largest Distributor

Need Support?

Whatsapp Us