Science, technology and society from the perspective of Social Technology: a study from the Critical Theory of Technology

Abstract

Technology is embedded in such a way in society, shaping lifestyles, that it is no longer possible to treat it as an isolated phenomenon of social dynamics, restrained by a reductionist discussion of scientific technical nature. Therefore, planning and controlling it is a political issue, claimed by the movement of the Science, Technology and Society in favor of a more democratic involvement in decisions concerning the scientific technological context. In this sense, the present article aims to discuss the relation between Science, Technology and Society (STS) and the proposal of Social Technology (ST), using as theoretical basis the Critical Theory of Technology. To do so, the results obtained with the realization of a descriptive bibliographic research whose are analysis is guided by describing the components of ST and its implication to the proposal from STS, in order to confirm its adherence to the last one. As main results, ST has great potential to aggregate to STS and in its critical proposal, there are the following advantages: emancipation of the individual, social construction process, appreciation of learning, respect for local culture, social demands as origin and purpose, ownership of technology, sustainability, democratization of knowledge, social change and multiplicity of solutions.