Levitt Series speaker Langdon Winner, the Thomas Phelan Chair of Humanities and Social Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, presented "Information Technology and the Dream of Democratic Renewal" on October 18 in the Science Center. The presentation focused on the conviction that new technology will revitalize democratic society. Winner also highlighted such themes as the public disconnect created through the rise of technological advancements, as well as the role the Internet plays in working toward a democratic society.
Winner began the lecture with a brief history of technological advancement and its link with technology today. For example, he noted that inventions such as the railroad system, factories, television and the telephone rekindled the hope of "revitalizing democratic society in the past." This idea is similar to the powerful role the Internet plays in the modern world. Winner noted that admiration for technological devices has shifted from one device to the next, starting with early developments such as the radio, and continuing throughout the computer age. Winner said that through the development of new technologies a strong association exists between technological progress and citizenship. People believe that through technology, political power can be "diffused" through the mass of people, that elevated political abilities can be exercised among the ordinary citizen.
Early in the presentation Winner presented a question to listeners that would serve as the foundation for the rest of the lecture. He asked, "What varieties of technology and through what patterns is technology compatible with the institutions of democracy?" On one hand, it is true that technologies have contributed to the betterment and quality of life; however, technologies also can become the focus of inequality and oppressive social control. Such an example is the railroad industry in the 19th century, which became the center of protest due to the amount of control railroad companies had over the lines. While technologies offer new hopes that people can vastly participate in government, these hopes are often contradicted and it comes down to the power of few versus the power of many. Thus, these waves of enthusiasm and hopes for a technological future are often followed by waves of criticism and doubt.
The Internet became a main topic of discussion in Winner's presentation. He pointed out that such developments as the Internet have had little effect on political institutions, for example, voter turnout. While technologies, especially the Internet, are created with the intent of connecting people, they often serve as strong disconnect between citizens and the public sphere. By resulting in limited contact with other citizens, the Internet does not contribute to creating this democratic society that is so often anticipated.
Winner ended the discussion with a question: Whether society has the will and determination to set aside a broad cultural domain in which liberties are protected and civic democratic culture is nurtured in light of technological advancements. He encouraged listeners to think about what strategies could be used in forging this democratic culture, and how technology could possibly live up to the hopes of past generations and forge our society ahead, rather than creating large societal schisms.
Langdon Winner is co-director of the Center of Cultural Design at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is considered the leading academic on the politics of technology and is also the author of numerous books and articles on social, political and environmental issues. His views on these topics appear regularly in Tech Knowledge Revue, published in the online journal "NetFuture."
-- by Danielle Raulli '10
Winner began the lecture with a brief history of technological advancement and its link with technology today. For example, he noted that inventions such as the railroad system, factories, television and the telephone rekindled the hope of "revitalizing democratic society in the past." This idea is similar to the powerful role the Internet plays in the modern world. Winner noted that admiration for technological devices has shifted from one device to the next, starting with early developments such as the radio, and continuing throughout the computer age. Winner said that through the development of new technologies a strong association exists between technological progress and citizenship. People believe that through technology, political power can be "diffused" through the mass of people, that elevated political abilities can be exercised among the ordinary citizen.
Early in the presentation Winner presented a question to listeners that would serve as the foundation for the rest of the lecture. He asked, "What varieties of technology and through what patterns is technology compatible with the institutions of democracy?" On one hand, it is true that technologies have contributed to the betterment and quality of life; however, technologies also can become the focus of inequality and oppressive social control. Such an example is the railroad industry in the 19th century, which became the center of protest due to the amount of control railroad companies had over the lines. While technologies offer new hopes that people can vastly participate in government, these hopes are often contradicted and it comes down to the power of few versus the power of many. Thus, these waves of enthusiasm and hopes for a technological future are often followed by waves of criticism and doubt.
The Internet became a main topic of discussion in Winner's presentation. He pointed out that such developments as the Internet have had little effect on political institutions, for example, voter turnout. While technologies, especially the Internet, are created with the intent of connecting people, they often serve as strong disconnect between citizens and the public sphere. By resulting in limited contact with other citizens, the Internet does not contribute to creating this democratic society that is so often anticipated.
Winner ended the discussion with a question: Whether society has the will and determination to set aside a broad cultural domain in which liberties are protected and civic democratic culture is nurtured in light of technological advancements. He encouraged listeners to think about what strategies could be used in forging this democratic culture, and how technology could possibly live up to the hopes of past generations and forge our society ahead, rather than creating large societal schisms.
Langdon Winner is co-director of the Center of Cultural Design at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is considered the leading academic on the politics of technology and is also the author of numerous books and articles on social, political and environmental issues. His views on these topics appear regularly in Tech Knowledge Revue, published in the online journal "NetFuture."
-- by Danielle Raulli '10
