Course:LIBR559A/Rafael, E. (2013)

Citation

Rafael, E. (2013). Technology as a social system: A systems theoretical conceptualization. Philippine Sociological Review, 61(2), 319-347. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/stable/43486378

Main Arguments

Erwin Rafael proposes that technology is conceptualized as either “state of the art” or “obsolete” (322). This is the key to forecasting where technology is headed. Technology is “autopoietic” (self-producing); it is constantly making itself anew, based on what parts of it society judged as not working (341). On the one hand Rafael appears to be saying: technology springs from necessity. On the other he appears to glimpse something more profound when he claims that we must “observe the observer” (328). Rafael prompts us to go beyond the question of who is responsible, to then study the desires of that agent.

Theoretical Frameworks

Rafael positions his theory as a departure from both Technological Determinism and the Social Construction of Technology. He claims that his model is more comprehensive because it does not limit the conception of technologies to merely objects (322). Rafael dislikes the objectification of technology, it is the “conceptual weakness” of previous theories (322). What we see as the artifact is only a by-product of social relationships.

Method

This work is a historiography. That is to say it reports on how we have discussed the entanglement of sociology with technology. Themes that appear similar are pulled out and considered trains of thought. Whether or not this synthesis makes sense is the judgement of the author. Although the author’s hypothesis is likely peer-reviewed and peer-approved.

Pitfalls

First and foremost this work suffers from a lack of materiality. If the idea is that artifacts are only a fraction of what constitutes a technology, then what exemplifies this? Rafael does not offer examples. I am left unconvinced that this model is beneficial to adopt. Perhaps this arises from the ambiguity of what the model is. The only clear idea is that we need a departure from previous theories. Rafael is facilitating the autopoietic nature of scholarship. Argument for argument’s sake.

Page author: Audrey McField