Contributions to a Philosophy of Technology

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XV

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2. On the Concepts of ‘Technology’ and ‘Technological Sciences’

   • L. Tondl

   Pages 1-18

3. Technology as Applied Science

   • M. Bunge

   Pages 19-39

4. The Confusion between Science and Technology in the Standard Philosophies of Science

   • J. Agassi

   Pages 40-59

5. The Need for Corroboration

   • J. O. Wisdom

   Pages 60-63

6. Planning for Success

   • J. Agassi

   Pages 64-68

7. Rules for Making Discoveries

   • J. O. Wisdom

   Pages 69-71

8. The Structure of Thinking in Technology

   • H. Skolimowski

   Pages 72-85

9. The Social Character of Technological Problems

   • I. C. Jarvie

   Pages 86-92

10. Technology and Natural Science — A Methodological Investigation

    • F. Rapp

    Pages 93-114

11. Scientific Method — A Triad

    • M. I. Mantell

    Pages 115-123

12. Specific Features of Technology in Its Interrelation with Natural Science

    • E. Jobst

    Pages 124-133

13. On the Classification of the Technological Sciences

    • D. Teichmann

    Pages 134-139

14. Instrumentalization of Actions

    • T. Kotarbiński

    Pages 140-149

15. A Philosophy of Engineering Design

    • M. Asimov

    Pages 150-157

16. The Design Method — A Scientific Approach to Valid Design

    • R. J. McCrory

    Pages 158-173

17. Three-Dimensional Morphology of Systems Engineering

    • A. D. Hall

    Pages 174-186

18. The Role of Experiments in Applied Science

    • Friedrich Rapp

    Pages 187-196

19. The Role of Apparatus in Cognition and its Classification

    • F. V. Lazarev, M. K. Trifonova

    Pages 197-209

20. Back Matter

    Pages 210-229

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The highly sophisticated techniques of modern engineering are normally conceived of in practical terms. Corresponding to the instrumental function of technology, they are designed to direct the forces of nature according to human purposes. Yet, as soon as the realm of mere skills is exceeded, the intended useful results can only be achieved through planned and preconceived action processes involving the deliberately considered application of well designed tools and devices. This is to say that in all complex cases theoretical reasoning becomes an indispensable means to accomplish the pragmatic technological aims. Hence the abstracting from the actual concrete function of technology opens the way to concentrate attention on the general conceptual framework involved. If this approach is adopted the relevant knowledge and the procedures applied clearly exhibit a logic of their own. This point of view leads to a methodological and even an epistemological analysis of the theoretical structure and the specific methods of procedure characteristic of modern technology. Investigations of this kind, that can be described as belonging to an ana­ lytical philosophy of technology, form the topic of this anthology. The type of research in question here is closely akin to that of the philosophy of science. But it is an astonishing fact that the commonly accepted and carefully investigated philosophy of science has not yet found its counterpart in an established philosophy of technology.

• Philosophie
• design
• philosophy of technology
• planning
• systems engineering

• Institut für Philosophie, Technischen Universität Berlin, Germany

  Friedrich Rapp

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