Overview

From hammers to robots, this book embarks on a comprehensive metaphysical exploration of how we should understand and study technological objects and systems. It reconstructs the metaphysics of technology and offers a unique perspective on the identification and functional classification of objects. Arguing that universal and static approaches are ill-suited to capture relational properties like usefulness, the book introduces a novel approach, called activity realism, which recognises the dynamic identities that objects acquire by playing roles in different activities. How can the role and impact of technologies on human activities be incorporated into the metaphysical study of technologies? How do technologies affect the reality of scientifically postulated entities? How can we functionally distinguish between different types of technologies? Problem-Solving Technologies: A User-Friendly Philosophy engages with such fundamental questions. In this thought-provoking book, the study of objects and their categorisations is paired with an examination of the activities in which they play a role. The result is a practically useful philosophy that helps to navigate the conceptual complexities of modern technology.

Full Product Details

9781538157879

Table of Contents

Reviews

As technology continues to dominate our lives in ever more invasive ways, it is imperative that we improve our understanding of it. Soltanzadeh’s thought-provoking study is a further welcome and important step. His problem-solving account of technology is clearly and persuasively argued. It should prove valuable to researchers, students and anyone interested in the current direction of technological development. -- John Weckert, Professor of Computer Ethics, Charles Sturt University

As technology continues to dominate our lives in ever more invasive ways, it is imperative that we improve our understanding of it. Soltanzadeh's thought-provoking study is a further welcome and important step. His problem-solving account of technology is clearly and persuasively argued. It should prove valuable to researchers, students and anyone interested in the current direction of technological development. -- John Weckert, Professor of Computer Ethics, Charles Sturt University

Author Information

Sadjad Soltanzadeh is a researcher at the Asser Institute, University of Amsterdam.

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