Question

In Social Theory, the question is: Habermas argues against the idea that technology/technical progress on its own can help improve society. Do you agree with his assessment?

Answer 1

Answer :

Habermas argues against the statement that it is technology or technical progress alone that defines our level of improvement in society. He is absolutely right with regard to his assessment. The question is, do we use technology, or is it technology that is using us? Do you feel that technology is permitting us to move towards a better future or does it compel us to simply maintain social order? Habermas is utterly against Herbert Marcuse’s ideas about technology debasing our idea of attempting to succeed, and making us impervious towards social change. On the contrary, Habermas feels that technology should be taken in a totally positive light as it is the simplest method whereby we outsource our tasks and get our work done faster, more efficiently and easily. He claims that our interactions with technology are culturally driven or purpose-driven. History has proven repeatedly that technology has adapted to modifications and trials faced by people. Just like in the earlier times, people used technology to sort out issues faced by them like heat and accommodation, similarly today people use technology to combat needs like communication and transportation. The quest for technological break-throughs is never-ending as man’s needs are ever-growing! Habermas asserted that our problem was never how much we rely on technology but the context in which we use it to communicate in society.

Habermas believes communicative action plays a monumental role in society as it is cooperative action and is undertaken by individuals based upon joint consideration and argumentation. This communicative action assists to transfer and reintroduce cultural information, in a process of accomplishing shared understandings. It then synchronizes action towards social amalgamation and unanimity.