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Problem-Solving Technologies

A User-Friendly Philosophy

Sadjad Soltanzadeh

From hammers to robots, this book embarks on a comprehensive metaphysical exploration of how we should understand and study technological objects and systems. It reconstructs the metaphysics of technology and offers a unique perspective on the identification and functional classification of objects. Arguing that universal and static approaches are ill-suited to capture relational properties like usefulness, the book introduces a novel approach, called activity realism, which recognises the dynamic identities that objects acquire by playing roles in different activities.

How can the role and impact of technologies on human activities be incorporated into the metaphysical study of technologies? How do technologies affect the reality of scientifically postulated entities? How can we functionally distinguish between different types of technologies? Problem-Solving Technologies: A User-Friendly Philosophy engages with such fundamental questions. In this thought-provoking book, the study of objects and their categorisations is paired with an examination of the activities in which they play a role. The result is a practically useful philosophy that helps to navigate the conceptual complexities of modern technology.

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Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Rowman & Littlefield International
Pages: 218 • Trim: 6¼ x 9
978-1-5381-5787-9 • Hardback • January 2022 • $111.00 • (£85.00)
978-1-5381-5789-3 • Paperback • June 2024 • $40.00 • (£30.00)
978-1-5381-5788-6 • eBook • January 2022 • $105.50 • (£82.00)
Series: Philosophy, Technology and Society
Subjects: Philosophy / Metaphysics, Social Science / Technology Studies, Philosophy / Movements / Analytic

Sadjad Soltanzadeh is a researcher at the Asser Institute, University of Amsterdam.

  1. Introduction

Part I: The General Categorisation

  1. Artificial Categorisations
  1. A User-Friendly Metaphysics
  1. Problem Solving Technologies
  1. The Conditions for the Possibility of Technologies

Part II: The Particular Categorisation

  1. A Taxonomy of Function Theories
  1. Conservative Functions vs. Authentic Functions
  1. A User-Friendly Theory of Function

Part III: Ontology

  1. Existence of Artefacts
  1. Reality of Technologies

Part IV: Activity Realism in Practice

  1. Scientific Reality
  1. The Human, the Technological and the Limitations of Autonomous Systems

References

Index

As technology continues to dominate our lives in ever more invasive ways, it is imperative that we improve our understanding of it. Soltanzadeh’s thought-provoking study is a further welcome and important step. His problem-solving account of technology is clearly and persuasively argued. It should prove valuable to researchers, students and anyone interested in the current direction of technological development.


— John Weckert, Professor of Computer Ethics, Charles Sturt University


What is technology? Sadjad Soltanzadeh develops an original answer to this perplexing question. His activity realist approach to the metaphysics of technology is clearly articulated and the case he makes for preferring it to available alternatives is rigorously developed. Required reading for anyone interested in the philosophy of technology.


— Steve Clarke, associate professor of philosophy, Charles Sturt University and Senior Research Associate of the Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, University of Oxford


Soltanzadeh offers a contribution to the metaphysics of technology…. The result is a useful intervention in long-running conversations within the philosophy of technology. The exposition is clear, although it necessarily proceeds at a high level of abstraction at certain points and demands some familiarity with the philosophical traditions with which it engages. Recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals.


— Choice Reviews


Problem-Solving Technologies

A User-Friendly Philosophy

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • From hammers to robots, this book embarks on a comprehensive metaphysical exploration of how we should understand and study technological objects and systems. It reconstructs the metaphysics of technology and offers a unique perspective on the identification and functional classification of objects. Arguing that universal and static approaches are ill-suited to capture relational properties like usefulness, the book introduces a novel approach, called activity realism, which recognises the dynamic identities that objects acquire by playing roles in different activities.

    How can the role and impact of technologies on human activities be incorporated into the metaphysical study of technologies? How do technologies affect the reality of scientifically postulated entities? How can we functionally distinguish between different types of technologies? Problem-Solving Technologies: A User-Friendly Philosophy engages with such fundamental questions. In this thought-provoking book, the study of objects and their categorisations is paired with an examination of the activities in which they play a role. The result is a practically useful philosophy that helps to navigate the conceptual complexities of modern technology.

Details
Details
  • Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Rowman & Littlefield International
    Pages: 218 • Trim: 6¼ x 9
    978-1-5381-5787-9 • Hardback • January 2022 • $111.00 • (£85.00)
    978-1-5381-5789-3 • Paperback • June 2024 • $40.00 • (£30.00)
    978-1-5381-5788-6 • eBook • January 2022 • $105.50 • (£82.00)
    Series: Philosophy, Technology and Society
    Subjects: Philosophy / Metaphysics, Social Science / Technology Studies, Philosophy / Movements / Analytic
Author
Author
  • Sadjad Soltanzadeh is a researcher at the Asser Institute, University of Amsterdam.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
    1. Introduction

    Part I: The General Categorisation

    1. Artificial Categorisations
    1. A User-Friendly Metaphysics
    1. Problem Solving Technologies
    1. The Conditions for the Possibility of Technologies

    Part II: The Particular Categorisation

    1. A Taxonomy of Function Theories
    1. Conservative Functions vs. Authentic Functions
    1. A User-Friendly Theory of Function

    Part III: Ontology

    1. Existence of Artefacts
    1. Reality of Technologies

    Part IV: Activity Realism in Practice

    1. Scientific Reality
    1. The Human, the Technological and the Limitations of Autonomous Systems

    References

    Index

Reviews
Reviews
  • As technology continues to dominate our lives in ever more invasive ways, it is imperative that we improve our understanding of it. Soltanzadeh’s thought-provoking study is a further welcome and important step. His problem-solving account of technology is clearly and persuasively argued. It should prove valuable to researchers, students and anyone interested in the current direction of technological development.


    — John Weckert, Professor of Computer Ethics, Charles Sturt University


    What is technology? Sadjad Soltanzadeh develops an original answer to this perplexing question. His activity realist approach to the metaphysics of technology is clearly articulated and the case he makes for preferring it to available alternatives is rigorously developed. Required reading for anyone interested in the philosophy of technology.


    — Steve Clarke, associate professor of philosophy, Charles Sturt University and Senior Research Associate of the Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities, University of Oxford


    Soltanzadeh offers a contribution to the metaphysics of technology…. The result is a useful intervention in long-running conversations within the philosophy of technology. The exposition is clear, although it necessarily proceeds at a high level of abstraction at certain points and demands some familiarity with the philosophical traditions with which it engages. Recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals.


    — Choice Reviews


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