Technosystem: The Social Life of Reason

Abstract

Modernity claims to be a rational form of social life, and it is in fact based on rationally designed technical artifacts and institutions informed by rational technical disciplines. This is unprecedented. Throughout hu- man history rationality has been confined to specific tasks rather than organizing society as a whole. Once noticed, the strangeness of our mod- ern way of life inspires reflection. What is the nature and role of ratio- nality in society today? This book draws on philosophy and sociology of technology to propose a response.