Abstract
Alexandra Hofmänner’s paper is stimulating and provocative. For science and technology studies (STS) it importantly reintroduces a lost dimension, philosophical anthropology 1968; in a critique of Western science, Jürgen Habermas of the Frankfurt School retrieved this dimension and distinguished three “knowledge constitutive interests” whereof the “technical instrumental” associated an empirical-positivist ideal pinned on measurement and control. Such epistemic categories however soon fell outside mainstream science studies, even if Andrew Feenberg—a student of Herbert Marcuse—persistently pursues a broad critical theory of technology.
Résumé
L'étude d'Alexandra Hofmänner est stimulante et provocatrice. Pour les études en sciences et technologies, elle réintroduit surtout une dimension perdue, l'anthropologie philosophique. En 1968, dans une critique de la science occidentale, Jürgen Habermas de l'École de Francfort a récupéré cette dimension et a distingué trois « intérêts de connaissances », dont l'intérêt « technico-instrumental » a associé un idéal empirique positiviste reposant sur la mesure et le contrôle. Ces catégories épistémiques, cependant, ont bientôt dépassé les études scientifiques classiques, même si Andrew Feenberg – un élève de Herbert Marcuse – poursuit obstinément une vaste théorie critique sur la technologie.
Resumen
El trabajo de Alexandra Hofmänner es estimulante a la vez que provocativo. Su importancia en el campo de los estudios científicos y tecnológicos (STS) reside en que recupera una dimensión perdida, la antropología filosófica. En 1968, en una crítica a la ciencia occidental, Jürgen Habermas, de la Escuela de Frankfurt, recuperó esta dimensión y distinguió tres «intereses constitutivos de conocimientos», entre los cuales estaba la «técnica instrumental», que asociaba un ideal empírico-positivista basado en la medición y el control. No obstante, estas categorías epistémicas pronto quedaron fuera de los estudios tradicionales científicos, aunque Andrew Feenberg – estudiante de Herbert Marcuse, persiste en llevar a cabo una crítica generalizada de la teoría de la tecnología.
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Elzinga, A. Review of African Eve Effect by Aant Elzinga. Arch 7, 290–294 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-011-9163-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-011-9163-y