EST 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Cultural Lag
14 Jun 2018
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Week 3 (2/12/18)
The Global Context: The Technological Revolution (cont.)
●Postmodernism and the Technological Fix
○Postmodernism is the view that rational thinking and science are limited in their
ability to provide “truths.”
○Many people think social problems can be resolved through a technological fix:
■A social engineer might approach a water shortage by asking people to use
less water.
■A technologist would develop new technologies to increase the water
supply.
Sociological Theories of Science and Technology
●Structural-Functionalist Perspective
○Science fulfills the need for an assumed objective measure of truth.
○If society changes to rapidly, problems may emerge.
○Cultural lag is a condition in which the material part of culture changes faster
than the nonmaterial part.
●Conflict Perspective
○Technological advances are motivated by profit.
○Funding of research is determined by dominant groups.
○Science and technology also further the interests of dominant groups the the
detriment of others.
○Finally, conflict theorists as well as feminists argue that technology is an
extension of the patriarchal nature of society that promotes the interests if men
and ignores the needs and interests of women.
●Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
○Knowledge is relative, it changes over time and between societies.
○Scientific “truths” are socially constructed and result from interactions between
scientists, researchers, and the public.
○Who becomes involved in what aspects of science and technology is socially
defined.
Technology and the Transformation of Society
●Technology and the Workplace
○Robotic technology has also revolutionized work
○Ninety percent of robots work in factories, and more than half of these are used in
heavy industry, such as automobile manufacturing.
○Technology has also changed the nature of work.
●The Computer Revolution
Document Summary
Postmodernism is the view that rational thinking and science are limited in their. Many people think social problems can be resolved through a technological fix: ability to provide truths. A social engineer might approach a water shortage by asking people to use less water. A technologist would develop new technologies to increase the water supply. Science fulfills the need for an assumed objective measure of truth. If society changes to rapidly, problems may emerge. Cultural lag is a condition in which the material part of culture changes faster than the nonmaterial part. Funding of research is determined by dominant groups. Science and technology also further the interests of dominant groups the the detriment of others. Finally, conflict theorists as well as feminists argue that technology is an extension of the patriarchal nature of society that promotes the interests if men and ignores the needs and interests of women. Knowledge is relative, it changes over time and between societies.
