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Scientific paper

Text

Towards a methodological luddism for ICTs

Authors:
Lanka Horstink, José Luís Garcia

Entry type:
Scientific paper

Year of publication:
2014

Publishers:
Degrowth Conference Leipzig 2014

Language:
English

Abstract: This proposal stems from the need for an experimental and reflective method - which we call “methodological luddism” - that will allow us to reevaluate the structure of humans' relationships with information technologies. Luddism as a method should not be confused with its original meaning - destruction of machines and equipment -, but understood as a means to examine the conditions that ICTs impose on social life. The problems of the digital divide and risk are only two of many reasons that might persuade us to include ICTs within the scope of a luddite method relative to current information culture. Methodological luddism would have as one of its main tasks the training for information in today's society, which is neither the training of technical experts nor the technical training of users, but rather involves the questioning of technological systems, not excluding the possibility of rejecting or even eliminating some of these.

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