Published Resources Details
Conference Paper
- Title
- Revolutionary Marvels or Cursed Machines? - Some Museological Approaches to Industrial Science and Technology
- In
- Recovering Science: Strategies and Models for the Past, Present and Future: Proceedings of a Conference Held at the University of Melbourne, October 1992
- Imprint
- Australian Science Archives Project, Canberra, 1995, pp. 115-120
- Url
- https://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/confs/recovering/mccubbin.htm
- Subject
- History of Australian Science - General
- Format
- Description
And HTML
- Abstract
It is important for me to define my approach to science and technology, so that my perceptions of science and technology and their places in the studies of humans are clear. However, as will become quite clear, mine are to a large degree lay opinions, and my knowledge is limited in particular matters of science and technology per se, and of the historical and philosophical bases of the disciplines.
First, over time, the term 'science' has come to have at least two significant implications - its claim to objectivity and its claim to rational, systematic inquiry. When the term 'science' is accepted by society as being an appropriate label to describe specific human endeavours, such activities tend to assume status as impartial and authoritative processes. The term 'technology', too, has come to assume an implicit moral notion of benevolent progress. Further, and most importantly, many writers argue that those with power in society define those activities which are to be regarded as 'scientific' and 'technological' at any given time, and that almost invariably those definitions benefit the powerful. The basic premise of these arguments are that the two terms tend to be value-laden and problematic, and in Western society specifically, definitions of science and technology tend to be eurocentric, patriarchal, and geared towards large capitalist endeavour.
- Source
- Carlson 1996
Related entries
Corporate Bodies
- Australian Science Archives Project, The University of Melbourne (1985 - 1999)
- Museum of Victoria (1983 - 1998)
People
Related Published resources
isPartOf
- Recovering Science: Strategies and Models for the Past, Present and Future: Proceedings of a Conference Held at the University of Melbourne, October 1992 edited by Sherratt, Tim; Jooste, Lisa; Clayton, Rosanne (Canberra: Australian Science Archives Project, 1995), 124 pp, https://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/confs/recovering/contents.htm. Details