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Published in:
2013 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
41. Policy, Decision-Making, and Management for Sustainable Engineering: Introduction
Author : Dr. Karel F. Mulder
Published in: Handbook of Sustainable Engineering
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
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Abstract
Technology is the methodological control over the forces of nature (cf. Habermass 1968). As this is a basic presupposition of technology, Habermass regards technology to be an “ideology” and not something that is prescribed by the laws of nature. Such a position is quite contrary to the established beliefs of engineers regarding their own work: being neutral and objective and just providing society with the efficient tools it needs. However, the tools are not neutral themselves, as our new technologies do not just fulfill existing demands, but also create new ones. Engineers have to be critical how, when, and for what aim new designs are created.